Terrace of the Leper King Inside Angkor Thom

• At the northern end of the Terrace of the Elephants is the larger Terrace of the Leper King. It is named after the Statue of the Leper King, a copy of which can be seen on the top of the Terrace. The original Statue of the Leper King can be seen in the National Museum Phnom Penh. On the original is etched the name '' Dharmaraja '' [ King of Death ] which refers to the Hindu God of Death '' Yama ''. The statue is dated 15th century, some 250 years after the construction of the Terrace.
  
• This Terrace was also built by King Jayavaraman VII in the late 12th century. Because of its shape for overhead viewing and the Statue of Yama it is considered by some as a place for cremation of the dead.
  
• Again there is no historical evidence to suggest why the Statue is called the Leper King. There is a legend of an ancient Leper King at Angkor and others suggest is is a reference to the markings on the stone statue caused by moss and lichens growing on it. The name has no historical foundation.