Prasat Sour Prat

Date: the early 13^th century

Style: Bayon Temple

King: Indravarman II or his successor

Clearance: Mr. Jean Commaille 1908, Henri Marchal 1919-1920

Restoration: 1955-1958

 The 12^th laterite and sandstone towers at the east of the royal compound name Prasat Sour Prat means the towers of the rope dancers or the tightrope walker was built in the 13^th century by the king Indravarman II. It was the Buddhist temple that consists of 12 towers they stand opposite to the elephants terrace; recently these towers have been rebuilt by the Japanese team. 

And according to the Khmer legend these towers served as anchoring places for the ropes which stretched from one tower to another tower. The acrobats performing at the festivals while the king and the queen observed performance from the terrace of elephants. 

This activity is reflected into the name of these towers, and depends on the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan was in Angkor 1296 said, take the case where 2 men are in dispute without its being known who is in the right or in the wrong. Opposite the royal palace there are 12 small stone towers each of the 2 men are made to sit in a tower and each is watched over by members of his family, they remain there for one or two or even three- four days, when they emerge the man is the wrong has inevitably caught some disease, either afflicted by ulcers or by catarrh or noxious fever, the man in the right has not the slightest illness, in this way they decide who is innocent and who is guilty and they call this was the celestial judgment.

Prasat Sour Prat

Prasat Sour Prat