Siamese Mercenaries

Procession of Suryavarman II
West wing of south gallery
Angkor Wat

These soldiers at the head of the procession have been identified as Siamese (Thais) by most authors, although this is disputed by Roveda (Sacred Angkor, p.33). Their hair is braided. They wear wide skirts, and carry spiked spears and long shields.

Many of the persons and events depicted in the gallery of reliefs are identified by inscriptions, which were written as instructions to the artists. Thus, for example, in the Procession we can read off the names of many of Suryavarman's generals and high officials. The inscription for this relief identifies the soldiers as Syam kuk, and it is the precise meaning of this term which is in dispute. In any case, however, their disorderly march indicates that these are irregular troops, probably used as skirmishers in a screening force.