MangoVine - Angkor Thom Part 1 - Gods and Demons at the South Gate

07 December, 2009
Monday

The temple ruins near Siem Reap were grouped in two circuits. On the first day, we saw the first of these circuits which included the famous Angkor Wat and the more spread out Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. The next four posts show what we saw at four points in Angkor Thom.

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Many people may know of the temple ruins in Cambodia by way of the film "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider". Angkor Thom was the first place we visited that was featured in the film, where several characters were shown visiting the place to recover the "first piece of the Triangle of Light".

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Here are some photos of our entry point into Angkor Thom - the South Gate.

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Each side of the approaching bridge was lined with figures. On the left are meant to be gods and on the right, they're meant to be demons.

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The figures were actually constructed in pieces so that they could be put together practically.

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The back of the gate can be scaled to give overhead views of the bridge.

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Three elephants.

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Ducks in the moat...

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Next : Serene, Stone Faces at the Bayon Temple Towers

More information about Angkor Thom on Wikipedia

This entry posted in : Cambodia. History. Tourism.

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Angkor Thom Part 1 - Gods and Demons at the South Gate

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