History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s12: Bayon.
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s12
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Bayon.
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The great temple of Bayon, within the city walls of Angkor Thom, is supposed to have been founded by the first king of the dynasty, Jayavarman II., and consecrated by Yasovarman about 900 A.D. This temple belongs to the third class, where, in consequence of the height of the two great platforms on which it is built and of the central sanctuary, a pyramidal contour is given to the structure. It is regarded as the *chef d'œuvre* of Cambodian architecture, not only on account of the splendour and vigour of its sculptured decorations, but for the magnificence of its plan (Woodcut No. 467). The principal difference between it and Angkor Vât is found in the second platform, and the great importance given to the sanctuary. Instead of having a third enclosure, the four angles of the second enclosure are filled with smaller courts, so as to leave sufficient space for the great entrance porches on the north, south and west sides, and for the entrance porch vestibule and two other halls preceding the sanctuary on the east side. Supplementary porches and halls are placed on the diagonal lines, with a double peristyle enclosing the whole, which must have formed a group of exceptional magnificence.
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In consequence of the terrible ruin which pervades the whole structure, owing to the forest of trees which has invaded it, there is no general view of it to be obtained, and its appearance can only be gathered by imagining the effect of Angkor Vât with fifty towers instead of nine, the whole more richly and elaborately ornamented than even that temple; to this must be added the increase of the pyramidal composition, owing to the closer grouping of all the towers and their decoration with the four great masks of Brahmâ on each face, masks which, in their fine modelling and expression, are only approached by the great Egyptian Sphinx. Woodcut No. 468, representing one of the inner towers about 50 ft. high, gives some idea of the still greater examples—that over the sanctuary being calculated as 130 ft. high. Half way up the tower were eight projecting frontispieces, each carved with the head of Brahmâ and giving greater importance to the sanctuary tower.
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Bayon is the only temple, according to Delaporte, which has a double enclosure of sculptured corridors, the aggregate length
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468. One of the Towers of the Temple of Bayon in Angkor Thom. (From a Photograph by Mr. J. Thomson.)
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of which has been calculated to be over 36,000 ft., or nearly twice that of Angkor Vât.