After the silhouette of Angkor Wat, the Face Towers of Bayon temple are the most iconic and enigmatic images of Angkor. There are currently 37 towers adorning Bayon with gargantuan faces of Avalokiteshvara, remarkably resembling features of king Jayavarman VII who had them built. While looking at the face towers of Bayon from the ground level delivers little thrill, walking up to the top level of the temple and standing face to face with these giant heads – almost looking them in the eyes, more than makes up for it. Because Bayon Face Towers are an icon on their own, I have decided to create a photo gallery dedicated especially to them, separately from main Bayon temple photo gallery.
Photo: Bayon Central Sanctuary on the Left, Face Tower on the Right
Photo: Smiling Faces of the Bayon Face Towers
Photo: Close Up of a Bayon Face
Photo: Bayon Face Tower on the Corner of the Gallery
Photo: Stone Frame and a Tower of Four Giant Faces Looking to Cardinal Point
Photo: Bayon Face Tower Towering Before Tall Cambodian Trees
Photo: Carved Decoration Around the Head of King Jayavarman VII aka Lokiteshvara
Photo: Bayon Face Tower Discolored as the Centuries Went By
Photo: Entrance Gopura Decorated with a Tower of Four Faces
Photo: Face Tower on Top of the Entrance Gate to Bayon Temple
Photo: Face Towers of Bayon Guarding Angkor Thom of Ancient Cambodia
Photo: Forest of Face Towers Decorates Bayon Temple
Photo: Free-Standing Bayon Face Tower at Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Photo: Faces Bearing Full Lips of Khmer King Jayavarman VII at Bayon
Photo: Looking Up for a Glimpse of a Face Tower of Bayon
Photo: Lotus Shaped Face Tower Adorning Bayon Temple
Photo: Countless Face Towers of the Bayon Temple
Photo: Bayon Face Tower with More Serious Facial Expression
Photo: Part of the Face is Missing
Photo: Partially Restored Bayon Face Towers
Photo: Restored Bayon Face Tower Still Misses Some Features
Bayon was built by king Jayavarman VII as his state temple at the end of 12th century, after he drove out the Chams who sacked the place. Today, Bayon is best known for its iconic towers crowned with four giant faces, each looking out to a respective cardinal point. Bayon is the center of Angkor Thom and symbolizes Mount Meru, sacred mountain in the center of the universe (inspired from Hindu cosmology). This photo gallery is a collection of photographs I took of Bayon temple when I was exploring it.
Bayon has a multitude of symbolic functions. Outer walls of Angkor Thom constitute its outermost enclosure within which Bayon stands as the pivotal mountain in the Churning of the Sea of Milk. Protected at each entrance by Hindu serpent Vasuki, the gods and demons who rotate it exert the “Elixir of Immortality” from the depths of the water that surrounds it.
Bayon was built to be a Mahayana Buddhist temple. Statue of Buddha seated on and sheltered by a multi-headed serpent Mucilinda was originally housed in the central prasat but was later smashed and thrown into the foundation well after death of Jayavarman VII, indicating change in religion (revival of Brahmanism). The statue went out of knowledge until it was re-discovered by archaeologists in 1933.
Bayon’s exterior galleries have walls covered in bas reliefs but aside from a few passages, lack roofs. Many bas relief characters are Chinese, who are seen as both soldiers and businessmen, often with Khmer women, sometimes with friends drinking and dancing. Random scenes from daily life of people occupying the Angkor Thom city compound are portrayed in bas reliefs of exterior galleries. I’ll let the pictures introduce you to the beauty of the Bayon temple:
Photo: Apsara – Cambodian Divine Messenger on the Entrance to Bayon
Photo: Apsara Carving on a Pillar at Bayon Temple
Photo: Archaeologists Mark Ancient Stones to Find Matches
Photo: Bas Reliefs Depicting the War Against Armies of Cham – Exterior Wall of Bayon
Photo: Bas Reliefs on the Interior Corridor of Bayon
Photo: Bas Reliefs on the Interior Wall of Bayon Temple
Photo: Bayon Temple Looks Like Disorganized Pile of Rocks at First Sight
Photo: Stone Lions and Nagas, Guardians of East Entrance to Bayon
Photo: Bayon Head Towers – View from the First Level of the Temple
Photo: Bayon Temple Cambodia – The Second Tier
Photo: Bayon – View of East Entrance
Photo: View of Bayon from the West
Photo: Buddha Patrolling the Collapsed Part of Bayon Temple
Photo: Buddha Sitting on a Serpent Which Shelters Him with its Head
Photo: Buddha Statue Adorning the Exterior Gallery of Bayon
Photo: Cambodian Cat Relaxing in a Shade of the Bayon Temple
Photo: Cambodian Woman Praying Before the Statue of Buddha at Bayon Temple
Photo: Collapsed Corridor at the East Entrance to Bayon
Photo: Ancient Stones of Bayon Leaning Collapsed Against One Another
Photo: Labyrinth of Collapsed Walls at Bayon Temple
Photo: Bayon Temple is a Pretty Complex Maze
Photo: Corridors of Bayon in State of Collapse
Photo: Decorated Pillars Still Standing but Walls Around Them All Collapsed
Photo: Doorway Leading to a Corridor with Gallery Housing Buddha Statue
Photo: East Gopura Serves as the Main Entrance to Bayon Temple
Photo: East Terrace Leading to Main Entrance of Bayon Temple
Photo: Bayon Temple of Cambodia with its Endless Hallways
Photo: Entrance to the Inner Gallery of Bayon
Photo: Entrance Passage Leading to the Main Bayon Gopura
Photo: Naga Balustrade on the Sides of Bayon Entrance Pavillion
Photo: Got To Be Careful When Exploring Bayon Temple
Photo: Extensive Bas Reliefs Covering Bayon’s Exterior Wall
Photo: Face Tower Adorning the Corner of Bayon’s Summit
Photo: Head Towers of Bayon Watching Over Angkor Thom
Photo: Insence Stick Burning Before the Image of Buddha at Bayon Temple
Photo: Inside the Second Level of Bayon
Photo: Partially Collapsed Interior Wall at Bayon
Photo: Linga – Phallic Symbol Installed in a Gallery at Bayon
Photo: Head of Naga Serpent Lonely Stands on Guard at the Entrance to Bayon Temple
Photo: Lone Statue of Buddha Under Direct Cambodian Sun
Photo: Long Corridor at the Second Level of Bayon
Photo: Matching Stones Are Marked to Help Rebuild the Original Structure
Photo: Much of Bayon Temple is Still in Ruin
Photo: Multi-Headed Serpent Naga Guarding the Entrance to Bayon
Photo: Nagas as Balustrades in Bayon
Photo: Interior Wall on the North Side of Bayon Undergoing Restoration Works
Photo: North Side of Bayon Temple
Photo: One of Many Buddha Images Found Within Bayon Temple
Photo: Pile of Bayon Rocks Still Waiting for a Place Where They Belong to be Found
Photo: Remnants of the Collapsed Walls of Bayon Temple
Photo: Roof of Central Sanctuary on Top of Bayon
Photo: Bayon Ruins
Photo: Second Tier of Bayon
Photo: Tourist Walking Towards East Entrance of Bayon Temple
Photo: Watch Your Head, Doors to Wall Galleries Are Often Small
Photo: West Face of Bayon Temple
Photo: Lion Guardians at the West Entrance to Bayon Temple
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