From Angkor:  "Angkor Thom, the last capital, was indeed a 'Great City' as its name implies, and it served as the religious and administrative centre of the vast and powerful Khmer Empire.  It was grander than any city in Europe at the time and must have supported a considerable population -- which may have been as high as one million.  Within the city walls were the residences of the king, his family and officials, military officers and priests while the rest of the people lived outside of the enclosure.  The royal structures were build of wood and have all perished, but remains of stone monuments let us glimpse at the past grandeur of this once great capital."

"Phimeanakas, located inside the Royal Palace compound, was the temple where the king worshipped.  It must originally have been crowned with a golden pinnacle, as Zhou Daguan described it as the 'Tower of Gold'.  It is small compared with others, but, even so, it has appeal and is situated in idyllic surroundings. ... The temple is associated with a legend that tells of a gold tower (Phimeanakas) inside the royal palace of Angkor the Great, where a serpent-spirit with nine heads lived.  The spirit appeared to the Khmer king disguised as a woman and the king had to sleep with her every night in the tower before he joined his wives and concubines in another part of the palace.  If the king missed even one night it was believed he would die.  In this way the royal lineage of the Khmers was perpetuated."