Prasat Suor Prat, Angkor Thom

How can one miss not seeing small tower like structures in front of the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King?

These are series of 12 laterite towers on the east of Royal Palace or one can say on the opposite side across the road. No archeological evidence, inscription, stele or any information has been found of these towers. It is believed to be built probably around 12th-13th century.

Prasat Suor Prat on either side of road to Victory Gate

The Victory Avenue divides the row of towers into two parts with 6 towers on its each side. So there are 6 on the north side and 6 on the south of the road to Victory Gate.

Purpose and construction of Prasat Sour Prat:

• The architecture of these towers is very different than temple, so they obviously did not serve as a place for worship.
• The size of tower diminish in size as it goes up.
• All towers have one big window and  doors face the west, that is towards the Royal Palace. The door in each tower open into a single room with one big window. The doors face west.
• The purpose and even the exact name of these towers is still not very clear.

Divine Judgement:

It is supposed that these towers served as a place to make peace between two people. Whenever two people had a disagreement, they would be forced to sit with each other in one of the towers for four days.

During this time, the person who had wronged would start feeling sick from stomach issues, cold and fever. The person who was right would remain healthy. The purpose does not seem logical but it is said to be closest reason.

Sanctuary for keeping sacred deities or objects or tributes:

During the Angkorian period, the ruling King was the ultimate authority. The kings established god-king cult, where they placed themselves at par with god. In return, he would take care of his public, looking after their well being, constructing temples, barays or reservoirs, places to rest, hospitals.

The heads of states under his protectorate would travel to capital and give him gifts, offerings on designated tables. The suor prat were probably meant to be for that.

The system of offering to King for his protection continued for a long time after that. Between 1528 and 1594, Angkor got abandoned and Lavek or Longvek became the capital.

The system of offerings to King continued and the system came to be known as "Bon Taing Tok" where it became a grand exhibition. Tables were displayed by valuables offered to king. The public would come and admire the objects.

The water festival in Cambodia ( Bonn Om Touk) is said to have its root in this ancient tradition.

North and South Khleangs:

Directly behind Prasat Suor Prat structures are the Khleangs. The road to Victory Gate separates the Khleang into North and South Khleang lying behind north and south Suor Prats.

The Khleangs in between two suor prat. These sandstone structures face the Royal Palace.

Meaning of Khleang:

The word Khleang is translated to storehouse or a warehouse. The true purpose is not clear. It is speculated that they served as reception halls for foreign dignatories.

Period of construction:

Though they both look similar, they are said to be constructed in different time periods.

The North Khleang was built in the late 10th century during King Jayavarman V's reign, while the South Khleang is said to be constructed under Suryavarman I in the late 10th century. But the construction was never completed.

Affect on architecture of future temple construction:

These structures were very different from the existing buildings in Angkor and brought about a change in the architecture of future construction as the Phimenakas and Takeo.