<P> Scholars theorize that the House of Fire functioned as a "rest house with fire" for travellers . An inscription at Preah Khan tells of 121 such rest houses lining the highways into Angkor . The Chinese traveller Zhou Daguan expressed his admiration for these rest houses when he visited Angkor in 1296 AD . Another theory is that the House of Fire had a religious function as the repository the sacred flame used in sacred ceremonies . </P> <P> Structures conventionally known as "libraries" are a common feature of Khmer temple architecture, but their true purpose remains unknown . Most likely they functioned broadly as religious shrines rather than strictly as repositories of manuscripts . Freestanding buildings, they were normally placed in pairs on either side of the entrance to an enclosure, opening to the west . </P> <P> Srahs and barays were reservoirs, generally created by excavation and embankment, respectively . It is not clear whether the significance of these reservoirs was religious, agricultural, or a combination of the two . </P> <P> The two largest reservoirs at Angkor were the West Baray and the East Baray located on either side of Angkor Thom . The East Baray is now dry . The West Mebon is an 11th - century temple standing at the center of the West Baray and the East Mebon is a 10th - century temple standing at the center of the East Baray . </P>

Khmer kings built this complex that included two main types of temples