57. Angkor Thom - 2

The forces of good and the forces of evil

Above: One of five gates with Hindu gods and demons - left side

Above: One of five gates with Hindu gods and demons - right side

Above: Deva
A line of 54 Deva (gods) line the left side of the southern causeway to Angkor Thom

Above: Asura
While on the right side of the causeway are 54 Asura - demons.

It was interesting to note that the left side with the gods - representing good, was light while the right side with the demons - evil was dark. One could argue it was just a trick of light or the time of day, but still.....

Above: Corbelled arch
The Angkorian engineers often used a corbel arch to construct rooms, passageways and openings in buildings. A corbel arch is constructed by adding layers of stones to the walls on either side of an opening, with each successive layer projecting further towards the centre than the one supporting it from below, until the two sides meet in the middle.

Above: Angkor Thom - the other side
The archway of the South Gate is very narrow - about the width to allow one elephant through. This is the South Gate after you've walked through. If you enlarge the picture, you can see gods around the gate on both sides of the arch just below the faces of Avalokiteśvara.

Above: Angkor Thom Asuras and Devas
From the top left-hand corner, going clockwise: Asura, southern causeway, deva, asura - basically all the statues looking towards the left are deva and all the statues looking right are asura.

 

Above: Angkor Thom map

Angkor Thom
Date of Construction ~ Late 12th - Early 13th century
Religious Affiliation ~ Buddhist
Patron or King ~ Jayavarman VII
Artistic/Archeo. Style ~ Bayon
Location ~ Angkor Thom