Cleveland Museum of Art

Head of a Follower of Shiva

Date

900s

Medium

sandstone

Culture

Cambodia, Angkor, 10th century

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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. The third eye on the forehead is a symbol of enlightenment.

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