Face Towers

Upper Platform, Bayon, Angkor Thom

Climbing to the upper platform of the temple rewards the visitor with a face-to-face encounter, so to speak. The glossary entry on face towers has additional information and examples.

The tower face on the right photo, above, retains some details of carving - ear and ear ornament, crown, and necklace - that are missing on many of the other faces. The eyes on the right photo are open, rather than nearly closed as on the left photo. On the left photo, the tower face has a lozenge-shaped object (a jewel?) in the middle of its forehead. It might represent a mark of wisdom, or some other symbol.