Cambodia restores two deity heads at Angkor Thom on 1 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 08:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Angkor Thom and the Returning Spirits to Their Original Sites campaign came together at the Victory Gate in Siem Reap on 1 October 2026, when two ancient deity statues received their heads again. The ceremony marked a permanent heritage change at the entrance to the ancient city in Cambodia.
Two deity heads return to the Victory Gate on 1 October
The APSARA National Authority carried out the reattachment and eye-opening ceremony under the campaign Returning Spirits to Their Original Sites. Cambodia's Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoeurng Sackona, presided over the event, which also included UNESCO Representative to Cambodia Flavio Bonetti and Buddhist monks.
The Cambodian culture ministry published the ceremony on 2 October 2026, while Xinhua reported that the ritual took place on 1 October 2026. The two restored heads belong to statues at the Victory Gate, so the change concerns a feature encountered before visitors reach the ancient city's inner monuments. The ministry's ceremony report gives the date and location, and Xinhua's account of the restoration identifies the campaign and participating institutions.
Why the Victory Gate matters inside Angkor Thom
The approach to the Victory Gate contains 108 deity and demon sculptures associated with the Hindu story of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Many sandstone heads were lost or dispersed during periods of conflict, with some later recovered through archaeological work, museums or international cooperation.
Angkor Thom was built in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII and served as the capital of the Khmer Empire. Its enclosure wall extends roughly 3 km on each side, reaches approximately 8 m in height and is surrounded by a moat, with five monumental gates providing access. The Victory Gate's ceremonial role links the newly restored statues to the wider history of royal rituals at the site. UNESCO describes the Bayon, within Angkor Thom, as a major focus of an international conservation project launched in 1994; its account of the conservation project places the site within the Angkor World Heritage property.
The restoration leaves the gate with almost all heads returned
The culture ministry said that almost all missing heads have now been recovered, while three remain in museums abroad. The continuing effort means the 1 October 2026 ceremony was part of a wider return process rather than an isolated reconstruction.
For travellers, the practical result is visible at the Victory Gate itself. The campaign has restored two sculptures at the entrance, while the rest of Angkor Thom's gates, walls and monuments retain their archaeological setting.
Visiting Angkor Thom: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The restoration ceremony took place at the Victory Gate on 1 October 2026, within the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap.
- The two deity statues were reattached at the gate; the announcement describes a restoration, not a closure or a changed entrance.
- Angkor Thom is in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, and the Victory Gate is one of the five monumental gates in the ancient city's enclosure.
- The approach includes 108 deity and demon sculptures, while the surrounding enclosure wall is roughly 3 km on each side and approximately 8 m high.
- Cambodia's official language is Khmer and its national currency is the riel.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Angkor Thom
What changed at Angkor Thom on 1 October 2026?
Two ancient deity statues at the Victory Gate received their heads again during a ceremony led by the APSARA National Authority.
Where is Angkor Thom and how do you get there?
Angkor Thom is in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, within the Angkor Archaeological Park. Visitors enter the ancient city through one of its five monumental gates.
What is the Victory Gate at Angkor Thom?
The Victory Gate is one of five monumental entrances in the enclosure of the late twelfth-century ancient capital. Its approach is lined with 108 deity and demon sculptures.
