Terrace of the Elephants
The Terrace of the Elephants ( Khmer : ព្រះ លានជល់ដំរី ) is located in Angkor Thom , north of Siem Reap ( Cambodia ). It is located west of the north-south road on the Great Square and thus delimits the palace grounds of Phimeanakas to the east. To the north is the Terrace of the Leper King .
The terrace was built by King Jayavarman VII at the end of his reign (early 13th century). It consists of three platforms of different heights, to which five flights of stairs lead.
The representations of elephants and a large elephant hunt gave the terrace its name. Also suitable are Garuda , Lion, Balaha (flying horse, one of the incarnations of the Bodhisattva Lokeshvara ), gladiators, artists and Polo see poker players.
According to descriptions by Chinese travelers of the 13th century, several pavilions that no longer exist today were located on the 350 m long and 14 m wide site. From there, the royal family could watch parades, processions and games in the Great Square.
literature
- Marilia Albanese: Angkor. National Geographic Art Guide . Gruner and Jahr / RBA, Hamburg 2006, ISBN 3-937606-77-7 , pp. 228-231 (Italian: I tesori di Angkor. Translated by Wolfgang Hensel).
Web links
Coordinates: 13 ° 26 ′ 45 ″ N , 103 ° 51 ′ 31 ″ E