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    Tuesday, March 20, 2007

    Terrace of Leper King

    Building date: Late 12th century
    Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
    Style: Bayon
    King: Jayavarman VII From 1181 To 1218
    Location: Angkor Thom, in the prolongation of the Terrace of the elephants.



    A double terrace wall on the north end of the Terrace of Elephants with impressively carved nagas, devils, along with other mythological beings. The internal wall is an earlier version of the external wall which was covered when the outer wall was added. The internal wall has been excavated by French archaeologists since the late 1990s. The terrace was named after the sculpture of the 'Leper King' that sits on top. Why the sculpture is called the 'leper king' is really a subject of discussion.


    Some conisder that once the sculpture was discovered, its lichen-eaten condition gave it the look of leprosy. Others have suggested that it's a sculpture of the leper king of Khmer legend, or that the condition of the sculpture inspired its connection to the legend. The design for the sculpture also is a case of discussion. It's among many of Angkor's mysteries. This terrace owes its name to a small asexual sculpture that one thinks of being the sculpture of king Yasovarman who'd is said to have died from leprosy. But other explanation is that this statue would symbolize Yama, the lord of death, and that the terrace might have been in fact a royal crematorium.




    The sculpture of the leper king on display at the terrace is a replica. The original lives in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. On the highly-rated terrace, there is a narrow and long trench with a number of impressive and well preserved sculptures, representing Apsaras, geniuses and monsters, a number of divinities, in an atmosphere of amazing coolness and elegance. This long corridor, has been completly restored, every unsettled sculpture being resettled to the new walls.



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