Angkor, Cambodia - 14 January 2005; A triumph of Medieval Khmer culture, the treasures of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Cambodia are incomparable. A

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Angkor, Cambodia - 14 January 2005; A triumph of Medieval Khmer culture, the treasures of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Cambodia are incomparable. Angkor Thom (Great City) was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII. Many of its temples were submerged by tropical forest for centuries, and trees continue to shatter and pierce the ruins. Most of the great Angkor ruins have vast displays of bas-relief depicting the various gods, goddesses, and other-worldly beings from the mythological stories and epic poems of ancient Hinduism, modified by centuries of Buddhism.

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Photo credit: © Jon Bower / Alamy / Afripics
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