Final answer:
The South Gate of Angkor Thom is part of the ancient fortified city of Angkor Thom, established during the late 12th or early 13th century in the Khmer Empire. It is a stone masonry structure made of sandstone and features the emblematic face towers, symbolizing the power and religious devotion of the Khmer rulers. This gate is not a Hindu temple, nor was it built in 800 C.E.
Step-by-step explanation:
The South Gate of Angkor Thom in Cambodia is not accurately described by any of the choices provided. It is not a Hindu temple or constructed in 800 C.E. Rather, the South Gate is part of the grand fortified city of Angkor Thom, which was established in the late 12th or early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII.
The gate is indeed a stone masonry structure made of sandstone and leads into this ancient city that was once the capital of the Khmer Empire. Angkor Thom is famous for its architectural grandeur, including the Bayon Temple with its face towers, which symbolized the omnipresence of the king and was constructed to evoke the form of the Buddhist cosmic mountain of Mt. Meru.
Angkor Wat, a separate temple complex built earlier in the 12th century, was initially dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and integrated Hindu cosmology into its design, reflecting the holy mountain of Mt. Meru at its center. It later became associated with the spread of Buddhism under King Jayavarman VII, who also enhanced the capital city of Angkor Thom during his reign.
The South Gate of Angkor Thom, featuring the face towers, would have been part of the extensive building campaign under his rule, which served as a means to display the power and religious devotion of the Khmer rulers.