The Pleasant Faces Of Bayon Temple | Angkor, Cambodia (10 Photos)

Bayon Temple is located in the ancient city of Angkor, which is located near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. It is thought to have been built in the late 12th or early 13th century. It was built for the King at the time, King Jayavarman VII.

Bayon Temple is one of hundreds of temples in the area.

1-2: The temple is topped with several towers where each of the four sides has a face carved into the stone blocks. Who the faces represent is a subject of debate among scholars.
3-4: Within the temple itself you can find remarkably well-preserved reliefs of ancient battles, including archers mounted upon elephants.
5: From this angle, the face appears to look up to the sky.
6: Even though the reliefs of these priestesses are right next to each other, one is remarkably well-preserved, while the other has deteriorated significantly.
7: A unique perspective of one of the faces through a temple window.
8: The brightness of mid day made black & white the best choice for some angles. In this photo you can get a good idea of the state of mind the artist was trying to portray with his carving.
9-10: The architecture of the temple itself is fascinating, with many doors and stairways close together.

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