"The wall of the city some 5 miles in circumference. It has 5 gates each with double portals... Outside the wall stretches a great moat, across which access to the city is given by massive causeways. Flanking the causeways on each side are 54 divinities resembling war-loads in stone, huge and terrifying ... "
-Chou Ta-Kuan, a Chinese envoy that visited the Khmer empire late 13th century.
-Chou Ta-Kuan, a Chinese envoy that visited the Khmer empire late 13th century.
Angkor Thom's South-Gate- Guess I need to continue to update my travel blog of Cambodia.
- It's kinda tired when you need to do a straights 6 weeks courses and field works - that's why I enjoy my work!
- OK, Angkor Thom definitely large, even larger than Angkor Wat.
- But this complex is not a temple, but a huge number of temples that concentrated in an area that up to 9 km square and fortified with wonderful walls.
- It has 5 main gates, each faced at different cardinal with an additional one - Victory Gate on the east side.
- The most preserved gate is the South Gate - clearly showed a 4 faces tower, some believe that one of them is Avalokitesvara; a bodhisattva that embodies all Buddha's compassion.
- Its surrounds by huge moats with causeways span to the each tower.
- This huge temple complex contains the famous Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper King.
From left : Each gates has a 4-faces tower - each represent Buddha, Shiva, Vishnu and animist; in front the south gate on its causeway.
The causeways made by rows of devas (on the left side) and asuras (on the right side). Both being distinct by their eyes - the devas has almond-like shape eyes while the asuras or demons are rounded. This idols are all holding the Naga, taken from the scene of Churning of the Ocean of Milk or Samudra Manthan - the famous episodes from the Hindu's teaching.
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