Bayon

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For the temple, see Prasat Bayon


The Bayon period covers the late-12th and early-13th-century reign of the celebrated king Jayavarman VII and his son Indravarman II. Many of the major monuments at Angkor date to this era such as Prasat Preah Khan (Siem Reap), Prasat Ta Prohm (Siem Reap) and of course Prasat Bayon itself. The huge site of Prasat Banteay Chhmar also dates to this timeframe while lesser-known temples as far west as Muang Sing and north as far as Si Satchanalai, (both in present-day Thailand), also fit into this period. Furthermore, according to inscriptions, 121 dharmasalas and 102 arogyasalas also need to be included. (1)

With such an enormous volume of sites, inevitably and unfortunately, hasty and shoddy workmanship is as characteristic of this style as are carved faces, cruciform terraces and Lokeshvara images. While Bayon-period sites are in many ways easily distinguished they can also be rather confusing in so far as much of the Buddhist iconography was subsequently defaced during the late 13th-century before being renovated in Theravada Buddhist fashion in the 14th. The much altered and renovated Bayon itself is indeed perhaps Angkorian architecture's single most confusing monument.

[1] Note, the famous list was compiled at a relatively early stage in the king's reign so the final total for both types of structure was certainly higher.

Map Keys
Large Prasat
Large Prasats
Arogyasala
Arogyasalas
Large Ruin
Large Ruins
Dharmasala
Dharmasalas
Medium Prasat
Medium Prasats
Ancient Bridge
Ancient Bridges
Medium Ruin
Medium Ruins
Ancient City
Ancient Cities
Medium Tuol
Medium Tuols
Ancient Kiln
Ancient Kilns
Prasat
Small Prasats
Ancient Quarry
Ancient Quarries
Small Ruin
Small Ruins
Ancient Reservoir
Ancient Reservoirs
Small Tuol
Small Tuols
Ancient Village
Ancient Villages
Museum
Museums
Carvings
Carvings
Depository
Depositories
Other Structures
Other Structures
Wat
Wats
Prehistoric
Prehistoric Sites
Neak Ta
Neak Ta's
Unknown
Unknown Sites
Unconfirmed
Unconfirmed Sites


  1. (1)