| This terrace leads into what is considered the Royal | | | | distilled inside the walls of Angkor Thom. Each |
| Court. Much like the Egyptian Pharaohs, the Khmer | | | | successive king left his mark, which Jayavarman VII |
| Kings were deified royalty. In fact, many ancient | | | | successfully incorporated into his grand city. The |
| civilizations had god-kings. Incan Emperors of Peru, | | | | harmony of the combination of a new structure like |
| early Japanese Emperors, kings of Mayan city-states, | | | | the Elephant Terrace with pre-existing elements like |
| and some Javanese Kings were all god-kings. Even | | | | Phimeanakas and the Royal Enclosure attest to his |
| some Roman rulers were deified posthumously by | | | | success. |
| the Roman senate. But it is still a strange thing to | | | | It is almost certain that this terrace was a gathering |
| imagine today. In practice, the position meant both | | | | spot for the Khmer army, and one can imagine the |
| isolation and exaltation. Much like the stone temples | | | | army returning victorious to reconvene for a |
| from which commoners were barred, the Royal | | | | celebration on the terrace. Before ascending the |
| Court was a realm reserved only for the king and his | | | | throne, Jayavarman VII was one of the Khmer |
| attendants. The idea of the god-king was an integral | | | | Empire's greatest generals. Jayavarman VII's |
| element in the establishment of the Khmer Empire, | | | | predecessor was killed when the neighboring Chams |
| and both traditions trace their roots to the Javanese | | | | invaded and took over the area. Jayavarman VII led |
| god-kings. | | | | the successful campaign against the Chams to |
| The Khmer Empire officially began in 802. Before this, | | | | recapture the capital of the Empire, and he quickly |
| this area was just a conquered portion of a vast | | | | and successfully set about reorganizing and restoring |
| empire ruled by a Javanese god-king centered in | | | | the city. He also continued to be a successful general, |
| what is now modern-day Indonesia. It was from this | | | | defeating the Chams on numerous other occasions, |
| empire that the concept of the god-king began in the | | | | eventually sacking their capital in 1191. He enlarged the |
| Khmer Empire. This empire placed a man named | | | | Khmer Empire to its greatest extent, winning land in |
| Jayavarman II in charge of this area. Jayavarman II | | | | what is now present day Thailand, in addition to that |
| declared the Khmer Empire independent and himself | | | | gained from the Chams. Another of his impressive |
| the devaraja, or god-king, of the new empire. The | | | | feats was to unify the Khmer Empire under |
| first capital was established where the Roluos Group | | | | Mahayana Buddhism. Jayavarman VII is best |
| now stands, almost 15km (or 9 miles) away. In the | | | | remembered for the impressive buildings he left |
| beginning of the 10th century, King Yasovarman | | | | behind. These impressive buildings, which were only |
| moved the state capital to this site. The area | | | | possible by his battlefield victories, simultaneously |
| remained the center of the Khmer Empire until the | | | | represent his military skills, which was perhaps his |
| Khmers faded from power. With the exceptions of | | | | greater strength. So it makes sense that this terrace, |
| the state capital at the Roluos Group, the temple of | | | | which served as a focal point for the Khmer military, |
| Angkor Wat to the south and the state temple of | | | | was a centerpiece of Jayavarman VII's capital. |
| Ta Keo to the west, the rest of Khmer history is | | | | |