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:
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- Photo: Apsara – Cambodian Divine Messenger on the Entrance to Bayon
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- Photo: Apsara Carving on a Pillar at Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Archaeologists Mark Ancient Stones to Find Matches
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- Photo: Bas Reliefs Depicting the War Against Armies of Cham – Exterior Wall of Bayon
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- Photo: Bas Reliefs on the Interior Corridor of Bayon
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- Photo: Bas Reliefs on the Interior Wall of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Bayon Temple Looks Like Disorganized Pile of Rocks at First Sight
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- Photo: Stone Lions and Nagas, Guardians of East Entrance to Bayon
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- Photo: Bayon Head Towers – View from the First Level of the Temple
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- Photo: Bayon Temple Cambodia – The Second Tier
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- Photo: Bayon – View of East Entrance
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- Photo: View of Bayon from the West
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- Photo: Buddha Patrolling the Collapsed Part of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Buddha Sitting on a Serpent Which Shelters Him with its Head
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- Photo: Buddha Statue Adorning the Exterior Gallery of Bayon
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- Photo: Cambodian Cat Relaxing in a Shade of the Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Cambodian Woman Praying Before the Statue of Buddha at Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Collapsed Corridor at the East Entrance to Bayon
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- Photo: Ancient Stones of Bayon Leaning Collapsed Against One Another
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- Photo: Labyrinth of Collapsed Walls at Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Bayon Temple is a Pretty Complex Maze
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- Photo: Corridors of Bayon in State of Collapse
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- Photo: Decorated Pillars Still Standing but Walls Around Them All Collapsed
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- Photo: Doorway Leading to a Corridor with Gallery Housing Buddha Statue
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- Photo: East Gopura Serves as the Main Entrance to Bayon Temple
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- Photo: East Terrace Leading to Main Entrance of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Bayon Temple of Cambodia with its Endless Hallways
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- Photo: Entrance to the Inner Gallery of Bayon
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- Photo: Entrance Passage Leading to the Main Bayon Gopura
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- Photo: Naga Balustrade on the Sides of Bayon Entrance Pavillion
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- Photo: Got To Be Careful When Exploring Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Extensive Bas Reliefs Covering Bayon’s Exterior Wall
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- Photo: Face Tower Adorning the Corner of Bayon’s Summit
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- Photo: Head Towers of Bayon Watching Over Angkor Thom
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- Photo: Insence Stick Burning Before the Image of Buddha at Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Inside the Second Level of Bayon
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- Photo: Partially Collapsed Interior Wall at Bayon
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- Photo: Linga – Phallic Symbol Installed in a Gallery at Bayon
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- Photo: Head of Naga Serpent Lonely Stands on Guard at the Entrance to Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Lone Statue of Buddha Under Direct Cambodian Sun
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- Photo: Long Corridor at the Second Level of Bayon
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- Photo: Matching Stones Are Marked to Help Rebuild the Original Structure
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- Photo: Much of Bayon Temple is Still in Ruin
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- Photo: Multi-Headed Serpent Naga Guarding the Entrance to Bayon
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- Photo: Nagas as Balustrades in Bayon
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- Photo: Interior Wall on the North Side of Bayon Undergoing Restoration Works
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- Photo: North Side of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: One of Many Buddha Images Found Within Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Pile of Bayon Rocks Still Waiting for a Place Where They Belong to be Found
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- Photo: Remnants of the Collapsed Walls of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Roof of Central Sanctuary on Top of Bayon
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- Photo: Bayon Ruins
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- Photo: Second Tier of Bayon
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- Photo: Tourist Walking Towards East Entrance of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Watch Your Head, Doors to Wall Galleries Are Often Small
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- Photo: West Face of Bayon Temple
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- Photo: Lion Guardians at the West Entrance to Bayon Temple
What Landed People on This Page:
- Bayon reliefs daily life
- bayon temple wall gallery
- bayon buddha
- bayon temple in cambodia
- found buddha bayon
- inside of bayon temple
- outer wall interior of bayon
- The Gallery of bayon Temple
- Www bayon budha tenpile potho com