TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS

 Date: the end of 12^th century

King: Jayavarman VII, added by Jayavarman VIII

Style: Bayon Temple

Clearance work: 1911-1916-1952

Restoration: 1996

This long terrace was called the elephants terrace; it’s the next name that they used to called, but originally this terrace had been used as the royal reception pavilions, or the royal entertainment. It was believed that this area originally contained a wooden pavilion highlighted gold and the was decorated with the mirror and gilded window frames, said of the Chines Diplomat Mr. Zhou Daguan in 1296, he also described some festivals, in front of the palace they set up a large platform that could hold more one thousand people and entirely provided with lanterns and flowers. In front of the platform they joined the pillars together that are likely the elevated scaffoldings on its top the put fire-works and fire-crackers. At night, the king is requested to attend the spectacles, they set off the fire-works and fire-crackers are so big and powerful that its explosion would shake the whole town and each month there is a festival at the 9^th month the whole population in the city of the kingdom gathered and make them present in front of the palace in order to be reviewed. 

TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS

And at the 5^th month they bring the Buddha’s statues from all the places in the city to keep in one place then they fetch the water and bathes them in the presence of the king, when they king leaves for his court all the cavalry is leading them come the banners and music the ladies of the court about 300-500 in floral cloth and flowers on the head.  In their hands lighted candles or torches thought it is in the day-time and form themselves in the bands then come ladies with royal utensils of gold and silver in different styles and they were either a group of the ladies of the court, holding the lance and the shield of the king. We could see goat-carts and horse-carts richly decorated, the ministers and princes were sitting on the elephants their parasols were red, and behind them the king’s spouses and concubines were in sedan chair in carts or on elephants. They had certainly more than 100 parasols provided with gold following them was the king standing on the elephant and holding the precious-sword, the tusks of the elephant was enveloped by gold, there were more than 20 white parasols furnished with gold and its handles were of gold several elephants were around the king and the cavalry protected him.