Along the 164 foot causeway approaching Angkor Thom’s South Gate are two parallel rows of sculptures. These figures represent devas who are guardian gods. Opposite them (not shown) are asuras or demons. Together they are pulling on a giant serpent named Vasuki, the King of the Nāgas. This portrays Samudra Manthan, the Hindu myth of how Vishnu formed the earth by recruiting spiritual archenemies to Churn the Ocean of Milk. Notice how some of these heads have been reproduced while the closest one may be over 800 years old.
