2013, Day 64 - Central rubble

The Temple of the Holy Sword, Preah Khan, is a sprawling compound.  Thought to have housed over one hundred thousand, today it is one of the best known jungle temples.  It is composed of a series of rectangular structures attached by covered walkways and broken up by courtyards.

I wish I had asked about the stones in the center of this open area.  Was this once another structure?  Perhaps a raised platform where offerings were made or where scholars taught their student.  Preah Khan wasn't just a temple, it was a city and a university, it was a placed of artistic instruction and the home of a cache of gold and gems.  For as much as we know there are still many questions that have no satisfactory answers.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f8, merged layers of 1/40 and 1/10 sec @ 100 ISO