Two figures hang head-down beneath a carved elephant’s trunk

I took this photo on 1st September 2026

At the northeast corner of the northern platform of the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom, two figures hang head-down beneath a carved elephant’s trunk. When I filmed the sculpture, one figure looked like a girl and the other like a man. From the side, one figure’s bent legs appear to curl around the trunk.

A French-language guide describes the elephant as holding both figures in its trunk. Looking closely, I wondered whether they might be clinging to it. Who the figures are and what story, if any, the sculptor meant to tell remain unclear.

I took this photo on 1st September 2026

Angkor Thom’s Gate of the Dead (ខ្លោងទ្វារខ្មោច)

Angkor Thom’s Gate of the Dead in Siem Reap province; four large stone faces look out from the top of the gate tower. The gateway was built in the late 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII and shares this design with Angkor Thom’s other gates.

 

Thmor Bridge (ស្ពានថ្ម)

Thmor Bridge, also known as Spean Thmor, is a historic stone bridge just West of Ta Keo Temple in Siem Reap Province. During the Angkor period, a wooden bridge crossed the Siem Reap River at this spot. It served as an important route that led from Angkor Thom’s Victory Gate to the East Baray, a large reservoir, and onward to the eastern territories of the Khmer Empire. 

The APSARA National Authority dates the surviving stone bridge to the 17th century. Khmer builders fitted sandstone blocks together without mortar, and some of the blocks are believed to have come from nearby temples. Today, large tree roots wrap around parts of the bridge, and some of the reused stones still bear traces of earlier carvings. 

ប្រាសាទព្រះដំរី (Preah Damrei Temple)

Preah Damrei Temple is an ancient temple from the Angkor period, located within the Bakan temple complex, also known as Preah Khan Kampong Svay Temple in Preah Vihear province. Built as a stepped pyramid, it features elephant sculptures at the corners of its upper terrace. These sculptures are among the temple’s most distinctive features. The temple stands east of the complex’s large ancient reservoir.

The exact construction date remains uncertain. In a study published in 1939, French researcher Henri Mauger noted that the elephant sculptures resembled 10th-century Khmer art, while some other sculptures and structures reflected styles from the 12th and 13th centuries. This suggests that the temple may have been built or modified in several stages. Today, two elephant sculptures remain in their original positions, preserving examples of the skill and creativity of ancient Khmer sculptors.

Kravan Temple (ប្រាសាទក្រវ៉ាន់)

Kravan Temple, Siem Reap Province, is a 10th-century Hindu temple in the Angkor archaeological area. Built by a court dignitary, it was dedicated to Vishnu in 921 CE. Its five brick towers stand in a single row, facing east. The temple is especially known for its finely carved reliefs inside the brick towers, a distinctive feature of Angkorian art.