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Head of Shiva
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineHead of Shiva, 1100s. Cambodia, Angkor, 12th century. Sandstone; with base: 42 cm (16 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1940.53
