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Consecrated in 1186 during the reign (1181-1215) of Jayavarman VII. The last great king from the golden age of Angkor was Jayavarman VII. Bayon is the main temple-pyramid erected by him. Due to four reconstructions and building procedures that sometimes try the laws of statics, the temple resembles a sculpture more than an architectural achievement. The main feature of the temple is the group of 54 towers facing towards the cardinal points. The faces, shaped after the features of the king, presumably represent Avalokiteshvara. Here, the inner walls of the outside galleries are also covered by reliefs, which feature historical scenes and scenes from everyday life in a realistic manner. In addition to mythological themes, the walls of the secondary inside galleries are covered with reliefs depicting mainly scenes promoting the religious canonization of the reigning god-king. |
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