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Head of a Deity or a Deified King

mid-900s
sandstone
Overall: 37.4 cm (14 3/4 in.)
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1923.95
Location: 244 Indian and Southeast Asian
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Description

The diadem is depicted tied to the intricate tiered headdress worn only by a god or king. Without further attributes, the identity cannot be known. Khmer sculptors of the 10th century emphasized powerful forms and extroverted expressions. The incised pupils suggest that this sculpture underwent the ritual of awakening, in which the eyes were added last. The royal head on the left is from a temple dedicated to Shiva, which was established by the Khmer king Jayavarman IV (928–942) in his remote capital of Koh Ker, 100 miles north of Angkor.
Head of a Deity or a Deified King

Head of a Deity or a Deified King

mid-900s

Cambodia, Koh Ker, Reign of Jayavarman IV, 928-941

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