Friday's Photo of the Day - A Bayon Extravaganza

 
This photo is the front of the Bayon. This structure is most famous for the faces on the pillars (on the upper floor) that face in the four cardinal directions. I read somewhere that is was an image of the king and symbolized his ability to see the kingdom in all directions.


 
These are pillars on the lower floor that sometime ago would have held up a roof of some sorts. Obviously, the roof has long collapsed or rotted away.


 
This was taken on one of the outer walls. These bas reliefs are fairly well preserved as are the ones at Angkor, but these depict more everyday life.


 
A better close-up of a bas relief that shows everyday Khmer life.


 
This was taken at the top floor of the Bayon. Here are the faces in greater detail.


 
Another shot of one of the towers with the faces.