 When
Jayavarman VII became king in 1181, he moved into the palace of
his predecessor, king Suryavarman I. The palace sat at the center
of the northern half of Angkor Thom, east of Phimeanakas temple
and directly west of the eastern Baray. Jayavarman VII expanded
the palace with several terraces to the east. The first, called
the Elephant Terrace because of its decoration, was over 300 meters
long. It probably served as the foundation for the King's main apartments,
which have not survived because they were made of wood. A 13th century
account says they were covered with lead tiles, and indeed, some
tiles have been found alongside the terraces.
 North
of the Elephant terrace is the "Terrace of the Leper King."
Its name derives from a misconception that one of the Yama statues
depicts a legendary king who suffered from leprosy. Actually, the
appearance of leprosy is an illusion caused by the lichen eating
away at the surface of the stone. The terrace is sculpted with seven
rows of divine characters, and was probably used for royal cremations.
Twelve stone towers face the terraces to the east. Called "Prasats
Suor Prat," they are made of laterite and were probably built
sometime after Jayavarman VII's reign.
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