ELEPHANT TERRACE
Terrace overlooking Angkor Thom's royal square, adorned with a sculpted frieze depicting a procession of elephants and numerous perrons
This huge terrace decorated with a large sculpted frieze depicting a parade of elephants was built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII. It is located at the main entrance of the Royal Palace. It extends over a length of 350 meters, in continuity with the terrace of the leper king. Both terraces overlook the royal square of Angkor Thom. The construction of the wall, with its very irregular contours, seems to have been complex and spread over several periods. According to Cheu Ta Kuan, a 13th century Chinese diplomat who traveled to Angkor, the terrace once contained, among other things, pavilions made of light materials, a council hall with gold window frames and quantities of precious mirrors. It was probably from the terrace that the kings observed the military parades after the battles against the Cham. It is indeed located in the continuation of the Gate of the victory. This structure was reworked many times, for bas-reliefs have been found walled in the masonry of the northern part: a five-headed horse between warriors brandishing clubs and, on each side, circus scenes. On the porch bays of the entrance pavilion are eight inscriptions recording the formulas of the oath of obedience that the mandarins took to King Suryavarman in the year 1011. The terrace has several stoops, and magnificent carved three-headed elephants, picking lotuses with their trunks, line the steps connecting them.
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