The fortified city of Angkor Thom
The fortified city of Angkor Thom, some 10sq km in extent, was built by Angkor's greatest King, JayavarmanVII (ruled 1181-1201). Centered on Baphuon, Angkor Thom is enclo sed by a square wall 8m high and 12km in length and encircled by moat 100m wide, said to have been inhabited by fiece crocodiles.
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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