Jayavarman II had several capitals. He established his court at Sambor, then at Phnom Kulen and finally at Roluos. These settlements were about 40, 20 and 10 miles southeast of Siem Reap respectively.
The temples built during Jayavarman II's reign during the first half of the ninth century marked a new phase of Khmer architecture. Ruins of temples built at Sambor and Roluos still exist and seem to prove that the old style was continued here. However, at Phnom Kulen a temple was built which shows the beginnings of the style of building used in the temples at Angkor.
The Phnom Kulen brick temple was the first attempt at a [L3 207 / P 037 / pyramid temple], imitating the cosmic mountain. Jayavarman II built one of his capitals, Mahendraparvata, on Phnom Kulen. Mahendraparvata means `the Mountain of the Great King of the Gods' and Jayavarman II probably took the title of `Mountain King' to emanate the powerful Saliendra Dynasty which took the same title.
