The Khmer civilization, today embodied by the temples and ruins of Angkor, one of mankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements and the largest religious monument in the world, flourished from 802-1431 A.D. From the great citadel of Angkor, the kings of the Khmer empire ruled over a vast domain that reached from what is now southern Vietnam to Yunan, China and from Vietnam westward to the Bay of Bengal. The original city was built around the Phnom Bakeng, a temple on a hill symbolizing the mountain that stands in the center of the world according to Hindu cosmology. Successive kings enlarged the city, building other temples devoted to various Hindu deities and large reservoirs used for irrigation, which also symbolized the ocean surrounding the holy central mountain. The most celebrated of the Angkor temple complexes is Angkor Wat, constructed under King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-1150).

The Khmer culture created a remarkable artistic legacy, boldly expressive in form yet delicate in its sensibility. The most famous Khmer monument is the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat, but works in bronze are equally remarkable in their power. Khmer art depicting armies on the march shows images of elephants carrying the king or nobility into battle. Simple, yet exquisite in their aesthetics, this bronze figure depicting an elephant may well have adorned a royal court. Even silent, they suggest timeless power and privilege. It reflects a mastery of bronze working and elegant decorative elements that characterize Khmer art. This bronze figure of an elephant is stunning examples of the majesty of Khmer art.