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Head of a Male Deity (<em>Deva</em>)

Tan stone carving of a head, features weathered darker, headwear with geometric pattern.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • Tan stone carving of a head, features weathered darker, headwear with geometric pattern.

Date:

Angkor period, late 12th–early 13th century

Artist:

Cambodia, probably Angkor Thom

About this artwork

This imposing, colossal head was likely part of an eight-foot-tall kneeling deity from a set of fifty-four statues that lined one side of a causeway leading to one of the five entrances of the imperial Khmer capital of Angkor Thom, Cambodia. At the heart of the city stood the Bayon temple, built during the powerful reign of Jayavarman VII (1181–1218). The statues depict the Hindu cosmic myth of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. On opposite sides of the causeway, both gods (devas) and demons (asuras) hold the giant serpent Vasuki in a tug-of-war to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. The gods and demons, while both frowning protectively as they guard the city entrance, are distinguishable by their eyes and headgear. The gods, like the one represented by this head, have almond-shaped eyes, a diadem, long and heavy earrings, and a conical chignon decorated with five rows of lotus leaves. This architectural masterpiece, depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk in three dimensions, can also be found at other sites, including the balustrade bridges leading to the temples of Preah Khan of Angkor and Banteay Chhmar, both from the Bayon period.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Asia

Artist

Khmer

Title

Head of a Male Deity (Deva)

Place

Cambodia (Object made in:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1175–1225

Medium

Sandstone

Dimensions

87 × 45.7 × 40.6 cm (34 1/4 × 18 × 16 in.)

Credit Line

Samuel M. Nickerson Fund

Reference Number

1924.41

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/86340/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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