Head of a Female Divinity

second half of 7th century C.E.

This male head, possibly of the Hindu deity Shiva, is identified by the columnar arrangement of cascading locks of hair piled on top of the head, and the third eye in the forehead. Other images in the style of Prei Khmeng or its close parallel at Sambor (both dating to the second half of the seventh century) include an Avalokiteshvara in the Musée Guimet, formerly in a private collection, with hair curling down to its forehead and the back of its neck with Amitabha in the chignon; the diadem consists of finely incised floral bands.