The late 12 century south gate of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia

 Many centuries ago, Cambodia was the strongest country in South East Asia. All the kings and the people were strong and intelligent.

They build many capitals and temples. At that time, they did not have any machine or trucks for transportation. They used strong animals like the elephant to transport the stones from the mountains to the city. It took them sometimes one century to finish one big capital, like Angkor Thom. During many centuries different kings built many capitals.

 This is the south gate of Capital Angkor Thom. It is on the way to Bayon temple and to other many temples.

All these carving statues were made from sand stones. It was build in the latest 12  centuries or early 13 century by the Jayavaramann VII, one of the khmer empire's greatest kings. 

 Too bad that Cambodia has been in  war in many centuries. Cambodia has been invaded by the neighbor countries many times.

The French colonized Cambodia almost 100 years.

 The latest war was during the Khmer Rouge time, in the year of 1975. Many ancient Temples, statues have been destroyed by the Khmer Rouge soldier and the Khmer soldier. 

 After the war, came to another problem. There were a lot of statues have been stolen or sell to tourists mafias and to another country.  

Nowadays, many statuses and temples are re-built  by Mr Pascal Royere and supported by international Labour Organization. 

 Like the behind status the head was stolen. The constructor just carved a new head and replace it on top. 

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