Grimacing asuras (demons) line one side of the approach to the South Gate of Angkor Thom. Opposite them is a row of devas, benvevolent Hindu deities. Both the devas and asuras are perched on the back of a serpent, called a naga. Angkor Thom (Khmer: អង្គរធំ [ʔɑŋkɔː tʰom], meaning "Great City"), also known as Nokor Thom (Khmer: នគរធំ [nɔkɔː tʰom]), is located in present-day Cambodia and was the final and longest-lasting capital of the Khmer Empire. Founded in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, it spans an area of 9 square kilometers. Within its boundaries are monuments from both earlier periods and the reign of Jayavarman and his successors. At the heart of Angkor Thom stands the Bayon, Jayavarman’s state temple, surrounded by other significant sites near Victory Square to the north. Today, Angkor Thom is a major tourist destination in Southeast Asia. Photo: National Geographic
