Global Treasures: Angkor Thom

Television Director: Ullman, Frank

Producer: Scarson, Peter O.

---

Catalogue Number: GTR-DVD-1210

UPC: 879061008092

---

Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

Angkor Thom and the ruins of the last great capital of the Khmer empire are entered by way of an impressive causeway that contains an array of gigantic statues. This "giants' causeway" consists of 108 mythical beings and divine spirits which, according to leading archaeologists, were created toward the end of the 12th century.

The main features of the royal palace were built around 150 years prior to the remaining construction of Angkor Thom by Suryavarman II. In subsequent years, the centre of the palace complex was the Phimeanakas, the "celestial temple," that was mostly used for important royal occasions. The royal palace is surrounded by several terraces such as the Elephant Terrace, famous for its exquisite decoration.

The magnificent stonemasonry is just one of the reasons that Angkor Thom is one of the greatest cultural heritage sights in Cambodia. Most sections of its northern wall are adorned with highly-detailed portrayals of ceremonial elephants.

In recent decades, the unique cultural and historical importance of Cambodia's Angkor Thom has attracted much interest from around the world.