Bayon 1: Faces of Avalokiteshvara at Bayon Temple, Angkor.
The Bayon Temple, also known as the ‘Temple of Beaming Faces,’ is located in the center of Angkor Thom and is believed to represent the intersection of heaven and earth. This three-tiered pyramid temple consists of 51 towers each with a head keeping watch at each compass point (north, south, east, west).
Bayon 2: Smiling Faces of Avalokiteshvara at Bayon Temple.
Built at the end of the 12th Century by King Jayavarman VII as his state temple, Bayon is a Buddhist temple but incorporates elements of Hindu cosmology. Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Bayon 3: Bayon Temple viewed through doorway.
Jayavarman VII initiated construction after he defeated the Chams to reclaim the Khmer Empire.The Bayon Temple is viewed as the second most important monument in Angkor it is constructed of sandstone and is said to represent Mount Meru.
Bayon 4: Face Tower at Bayon Temple, Angkor.
Jayavarman VII, who ascended to the Khmer kingdom’s throne at Angkor in 1181 A.D. erected the site for Buddhist worship, although it later was renovated and used as a Hindu temple.
Bayon 5: Faces of Avalokiteshvara at Bayon Temple, Angkor.
Whenever a new monarch took over Bayon he made personal changes to the temple. After the death of Jayavarman VII, Jayavarman VIII took over the Bayon in the middle of the thirteen century.
Bayon 6: Bayon Temple, Angkor.
The preservation of many of the towers, however, is poor so it is difficult to know exactly how all the towers were carved. Over 200 giant smiling faces remain, but there may once have been between one and two hundred towers, each with four faces.
Bayon 7: Building with Face Tower on 2nd Level, Bayon Temple.
Each of the towers are known as face towers with faces nearly 2 meters (or six feet) in height.
Bayon 8: Entrance to Bayon Temple, Angkor.
The Bayon has three levels, the first of which has eight doorways and between these are walls covered with bas-reliefs. These bas relief carvings are some of the finest at Angkor.
Bayon 9: Bayon Temple, Angkor, Cambodia.
There are two libraries in the outer courtyard of the Bayon. There were also once 16 structures that went around the outer courtyard of the temple, connecting the outer and inner galleries. These 16 structures were demolished at an unknown point in time - but probably before the Khmers abandoned Angkor in 1431.
Bayon 10: Carving of Apsara, Bayon Temple, Angkor.
Carving of Apsara on pillar in Bayon Temple.
Bayon 11: Bas-Relief Scenes, Bayon Temple, Angkor.
Bayon Temple is surrounded by two long walls bearing an extraordinary collection of bas-relief scenes of everyday life, legendary and historical events.
Bayon 12: Carvings, Bayon Temple, Angkor.
In all, there are are total of more than 11,000 carved figures over 1.2km of wall. They were probably originally painted and gilded but have since faded back to their base stone.
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