Head of Shiva
Unknown Artist
1100s
Medium
sandstone
Dimensions
h. 42 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1940.53
About this artwork
Khmer patrons and artists produced works of art that could depict either a deified king or a god who has royal attributes. The Khmer cult of the god-king allowed for such fluidity of interpretation. Presence of a third eye in the forehead and matted locks of hair are attributes both of the Hindu god Shiva and the followers who emulated him in order to get closer to him.