Horse-Headed Incarnation of God Vishnu (Vajimukha)
Pre–Angkor period, 7th–8th century
Medium
Sandstone
Dimensions
30.5 × 9.8 × 7.7 cm (12 × 3 7/8 × 3 in.)
Classification
sandstone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
151098
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Horse-Headed Incarn of God Vishnu (Vajimukha)*, a captivating sandstone sculpture from Cambodia's Pre-Angkor period (7th8th century). Carved during the early Khmer kingdom's rise, when Hindu deities like Vishnu held sway alongside emerging Buddhist influences, this piece captures a rare and fierce manifestation of the preserver god. With its compact dimensions—30.5 × 9.8 × 7.7 cm—this artifact likely served as a devotional object in a temple or shrine, embodying divine protection and power. Crafted from durable sandstone, a favored medium for its workability and longevity in South...