Angkor Thom

We had the chance to visit a second temple complex, built by the most famous Khmer King, Jayavarman.  Angkor Thom was built 50 years after Angkor Wat, and it is a very large complex of 9 square kilometers.  This King converted the Khmer people to Buddhism by banning the Hindu caste system.  All people were treated equally (except the conquered Cham slaves that built most of the temples).  This King built hospitals and schools, and a whole lot of temples.  

To reach his main temple, Bayon, we had to cross a bridge lined with huge Buddhas, each holding part of a giant cobra.  These statues were giant, 8 feet tall with huge carved heads and big feet. Some of the faces have crumbled, and some are newer, obviously replaced during some renovation in the past 100 yearsz. The snake has broken in lot of places, but the whole effect is amazing as the Buddhas line the way to the entrance gate.  

My phone photo storage got filled up so I could t take many photos at Angkor Thom, but students have promised to send some.  We'll post when we can.  

Bayon temple is quite in ruins.  It's possible to see lots of the rubble around, and while some of the outer walls of the great stupas are still standing, there are almost no roofs left on the temple.  The most amazing feature of this temple is the giant faces of Buddha that are built right into the walls.  They are huge, probably 4 foot square.  And they protrude out from the walls.  There were carved in place, so the lines of the worn bricks leave strange scars through each face.  They are striking and powerful and just a little bit unsettling.  I'm hoping to post photos of the faces later.  These are photos of the entry gate.