Angkor Thom
History
Royal Palace, Phimeanakas
Royal Plaza, Khleang, Prasat Suor Prat
Baphuon
Angkor Thom
Gates
Causeways of Giants
Gate towers
Prasat Chrung
The royal terraces
Bayon
Layout
A profound mandala
Hospital temples
Time table
References
King Yasovarman I (889-900) founded a new capital, Yasodharapura , the centre of which was Phnom Bakheng , a Shiva temple.
Gradually the capital grew up to a metropolis. By recent research (see Understanding Angkor) we know, that it spread over more than 1,000 square kilometres, with a diameter of more than 30 kilometres. In its heyday it was by far the biggest pre-industrial settlement in the world.
It was a 'low density urban complex'. Houses were built of non-lasting material; brick or sandstone were reserved for temples.
Map of Angkor Thom
The oldest known building in Angkor Thom is the Phimeanakas, 2.5 km north of the Phnom Bakheng. Modified about AD 1000, it became a small pyramid temple.
King Suryavarman I (1002-1050) built the enclosure wall and the gates of the Royal Palace. The palace opens to the East by a fine Gopura.
Phimeanakas
East Gate of the Royal Palace
From here an avenue leads east to the East Baray. This avenue is the symmetrical axis of the Royal Plaza, a courtyard, 700 m north-south by 160 m east-west, a spectacular ground for processions and military parades. To the East it is framed by the two Khleang (halls) and the twelve Prasat Suor Prat.
Prasat Suor Prat
King Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066) built the temple mountain Baphuon on a narrow rectangular space, adjoining the southern wall of the Royal Palace. This huge pyramid dominated the Royal Square.
Baphuon (drawing by Fournereau, 1889)
King Jayavarman VII (1181-1220) laid out the royal quarter in the core of the huge metropolis, which is now called Angkor Thom ('big town'), It measures 3,000 m square, and is enclosed by a moat and a laterite wall, 8 m high and . Visitors will first see the South Gate of this moat and wall, near the northern slope of Phnom Bakheng.
Monumental GatesFour gates open the wall in the cardinal directions. A fifth gate, now called Victory Gate, serves the road from the Royal Palace to the East.
South Gate
Causeways of Giants
Entering Angkor Thom by the causeway, you see the statues (or torsos) of 54 gods on your left and 54 demons on your right; each group is holding a huge naga . The two naga escort the transition from the secular to the sacred world.
South Gate
Gate towers
There is a central tower, more than 23 m high, flanked by two smaller ones. The central tower has faces at front and back, the lateral towers outwards. In the corners of the towers' base god Indra appears on top of Airavan, a three-headed elephant who plucks lotus flowers with his trunks.
All five gates are identical in construction, but very different in their actual appearance.
The South Gate has the most extensive collection of giants' heads. This area may be pretty crowded sometimes.
The West Gate has the best preserved faces. The remains of the Causeway of Giants have not been restored. The site is quiet and picturesque.
The North Gate is best preserved. Look for the Indra reliefs. The Causeway of Giants is restored. A rather tranquil area.
At the Victory Gate the Causeway of Giants has been restored.
The East Gate (called Gate of the Deaths ) displays a well preserved west face The causeway has not been restored. The site is an always quiet realm.
West Gate
Prasat Chrung
Inside of the city's wall we find an earthen rampart. Four small temples are in the corners; the north-eastern one is distinguished by a pavilion which sheltered a stele.
Album: Along the walls of Angkor Thom
Northeast Prasat Chrun
The royal terraces
The Terrace of the Elephants is 300 m long, along the axis of the East Gate of the Baphuon., it obscures the east face of the old Royal Palace, it was topped by wooden and gilded pavilions.
The Terrace of the Leper King is adjacent to the North.
The state temple of King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon, was consecrated to the Buddha. It is located at the geometrical centre of Angkor Thom, with roads and parallel ditches running to the gates at the cardinal points, and covering the southern side of the Royal Plaza.
The layout of Angkor Thom
The design of Angkor Thom is methodical, encompassing the older buildings: the Royal Palace, the Plaza, the avenue to the East, and the Baphuon.
The ground in the Northeast is 8 m higher than in the Southwest. Water from the Siem Reap River enters from the Northeast. A network of channels are running to the Southwest. Here the water collects in Beng Thom , from where it runs into the moat through Run Tadev , some arches in the city's wall.
A profound mandala
The layout of Angkor Thom is similar to Neak Pean: The square is a symbol of the Earth. To the North, East, South and West of a central Buddha sanctuary are healing stations, springs at Neak Pean, hospitals at the roads from Angkor Thom. The Buddha is the centre, transmitting salvation and welfare all over the world. In this spirit public health was paramount in King Jayavarman's policy.
Hospital temples
An inscription tells us that King Jayavarman VII founded 108 hospitals. Four of them were located at the outskirts of Angkor Thom; we find Hospital Temples to the North (Prasat Tonlé Snguot), the East (near Ta Keo), the South (Prasat Ta Prohm Kel), and the West.
