Angkor Thom Temple - Siem Reap Province
Angkor Thom is a very popular tourist
spot. It was established in the late twelfth century to early thirteenth
century by King Jayavarman VII. This site is situated 1.7 Km north of
Angkor Wat, within which are located several monuments from earlier eras
as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors.
The fortified city of Angkor Thom, some
9sq km in extent, was the last and most enduring capital city of the
Khmer empire built by Angkor’s greatest King, Jayavarman VII (ruled
1181-1201).
Centered on Baphuon, Angkor Thom is
enclosed by a square wall 8m high and 12km in length and encircled by
moat 100m wide. The city has five monumental gates, one each in the
north, west and south walls and two in the east wall. In front of each
gate stand giant statues of 54 gods (to the left of the causeway) and 54
demons (to the right of the causeway), a motif taken from the story of
the Churning of the Ocean of Milk illustrated in the famous bas-relief
at Angkor Wat. In the center of the walled enclosure are the city’s most
important monuments, including the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Royal
Enclosure, Phimeanakas and the Terrace of Elephants.
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