One of the last temples built in Angkor, Bayon is one of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor; most are dedicated to Hindu dieties. Over 200 large faces adorn the 54 towers at Bayon. Opinions vary: the faces may depict Avalokitesvara. My favorite choice, though, is Jayavarman VII himself, the King who built the Bayon - the faces depict him, for he thought he was a bodhisattva (someone who had achieved the Buddhist goal of disengaging himself from the world and, upon being offered the opportunity to dissipate into Nirvana, chose unselfishly instead to return to the world to help it). An alternative: Jayavarman's face was used to depict Avalokitesvara because that was the god associated with Jayavarman as god-king.

One of the last temples built in Angkor, Bayon is one of the fewBuddhist temples in Angkor; most are dedicated to Hindu dieties. Over200 large faces adorn the 54 towers at Bayon.
Opinions vary: thefaces may depict Avalokitesvara. My favorite choice, though, isJayavarman VII himself, the King who built the Bayon - the faces depicthim, for he thought he was a bodhisattva (someone who had achieved theBuddhist goal of disengaging himself from the world and, upon beingoffered the opportunity to dissipate into Nirvana, chose unselfishlyinstead to return to the world to help it). An alternative:Jayavarman's face was used to depict Avalokitesvara because that wasthe god associated with Jayavarman as god-king.