Jan 18 Angkor Thom

I spent another day visiting temples. My first stop was Angkor Thom, which is the name of the city that was the last capital of the Khmer empire. The city was surrounded by a square moat. Each side 3 km, and a width of 100 m. On the inside of the moat was an 8 m high wall, 25 m wide, which served as a road all around the perimeter of the city. Midway along each wall was a causeway with impressive gates. The moat is dry now, but it still looks impressive. Historians think there was a population of close to one million people inside the walls. Unfortunately all the buildings, made of wood and Palm leaves are completely gone. All that remains are the stone temples, of which there are many. 

All roads, from the entrances, lead to the central temple, the Bayon. This temple is not as big, or high, as the temple at Angkor Wat, but it is, visually more spectacular. It looks like a forest of towers. There are about 54 towers, the number is in dispute, and each one has 4 enigmatic faces, looking in each of the cardinal direction. It isn't known whether the faces represent gods, or the king, looking after all his subjects. There are over a hundred small rooms inside the towers, it is like a maze.

Another feature of Bayon are the many bas relief carvings which decorate the outside of the temple's walls. They depict historical scenes, such as wars, but also scenes from everyday life. You could spend days looking at nothing but these stone carvings.

The other temple I visited was Ta Prohm. This was a temple built as a monastery, and was dedicated to the king's mother. What distinguishes it is that it was decided to leave it as found, as much as possible. This means the trees which take over are still there. These trees start as seedlings in a crevice in the wall of a temple, and grow downward until they reach the ground. They then expand their roots, increasing the gaps between the stones. They become the wall's support. The problem arises when the tree dies, and the walls collapse. This temple is very well know, and is featured in the film "Lara Croft Tomb Raider.

Gorgeous visit, but another long day.

A stone sculpture of Naga, the 7 headed snake, a protector of the city. The body runs along the railing of a wall, with the head rearing up at the end.

One of the entrances to the city, one elephant wide. Note the 3 columns on either side. They are the trunks of a 3 headed elephant, being ridden by one of the gods. Note the face above the entrance

The towers of Bayon, and faces

The jungle versus the temple.