Untitled

Unknown

7th–early 8th century · Stone · Asian Art

Monumental lingas of the seventh and eighth centuries are found throughout Thailand. Kings would establish lingas as a religious act and as a means of legitimizing their claims to power over newly conquered territories. Ideas of perfect geometry help relate the octagonal base to the cardinal and intermediate directions, while the circular pillar is implicitly the cosmic axis. Here, the face of Shiva provides a focus for veneration; he is recognizable by the crescent in his hair and by his vertical third eye.

Artist

Unknown

Date

7th–early 8th century

Medium

Stone

Culture

Thailand (Phetchabun Province, Si Thep)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Evelyn Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 1994