Bayon has 54 towers overall, with 37 face-towers on the upper-level cruciform platform and a commonly cited total of 173 faces. Most face-towers have four faces aimed toward the cardinal directions, though some have three. A 2007 University of Tokyo study classified the faces into Devas, Asuras and Dvarapalas. Bayon is commonly called Jayagiri, meaning “Mountain of Victory”; “Mountain of Brahma” is an alternative identification. Its polygonal masonry creates a 3D-puzzle effect, and the faces vary in expression, features and jewelry. The identification with four-faced Brahma rather than Buddha is an interpretation advanced by some researchers. Angkor Thom covers about 3 km square, with a moat about 190 m wide and 6 m deep and a wall about 4.5 m high.
Bayon's commonly cited 173 faces: three types identified in a 2007 study
CambodiaGeneral
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Bayon has 54 towers overall; the commonly cited 173-face count is associated with 37 face-towers on the upper-level cruciform platform.
- Most face-towers have four faces oriented toward the cardinal directions, although some have three.
- A 2007 University of Tokyo study classified the faces into three iconographic types: Devas, Asuras and Dvarapalas.
- Jayagiri, meaning “Mountain of Victory,” is the commonly cited original name; “Mountain of Brahma” is an alternative identification.
- The polygonal masonry creates a 3D-puzzle effect, and the faces vary in expression, features and jewelry.
- Some researchers have proposed that the faces represent four-faced Brahma rather than Buddha; this remains an interpretation rather than settled fact.
- Angkor Thom covers about 3 km square. Its moat is about 190 m wide and 6 m deep, and its wall is about 4.5 m high.
Sources
Bayon Temple tower wall with carved stone faces in profile - NCpediancpedia.org
The structures are known as "face towers." The carved bas-reliefs on the outer walls of the Bayon towers depict heroic historical tales as well ...
The Bayon: A temple with many faces - Smarthistorysmarthistory.org
The face-towers typically have four faces, each pointed towards the cardinal directions; although, some of the towers at Bayon have three faces. The faces ...
Bayon - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The original name for the Bayon is Jayagiri (Khmer: ជ័យគីរី, Chey ... Efforts to read some significance into the numbers of towers and faces have ...
The Bayon - Tien Chiutienchiu.com
Most have four large smiling faces, but some have three or only two, and the central tower has more (!). These faces are quite large–4-8 feet across. The other ...
Multiplicity and Mercy — The Face Towers of Jayavarman VIIlucasvarro.com
Explore the meaning behind the Bayon's iconic four-faced towers — their origins in Jayavarman VII's compassionate kingship, their cosmological orientation, ...
Bayon vs Baphuon Temple – Faces vs Reclining Buddhamysiemreaptours.com
54 towers with 216 faces, 37 towers with 173 visible faces. Central Tower ... Bayon Temple delivers 216 iconic stone faces across 37 towers in a compact ...
How Many Face Towers in Bayon? (2008) - 02 ISEA 2004academia.edu
Based on the currently accepted count of 49 face towers, and given that some towers have 4 faces and some 3, we reach a total of 173 faces, 163 necks, 160 ...
Bayon Temples Cambodiavisit50.com
Bayon has faces as tall as 7 feet just for the face, and there's 37 towers! There are 216 gigantic faces on the Bayon temple towers, , Siem ...
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