https://emuseum.cornell.edu/internal/media/dispatcher/77389/fullPortrait of a king or queen in the guise of a deityearly 14th century13 x 8 inches (33 x 20.3 cm)AndesiteAcquired through the George and Mary Rockwell Fund97.0710A finely carved volcanic stone head of Siva, with downcast expression, raised curved eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, pouting lips, elongated earlobes with large earring, wearing a high octagonal headdress, carved with a lotus on top, a five-leaved diadem, carved with jewellery.Sculpture21638435298IndonesiaAfter the death of a Majapahit king or queen, a commemorative temple or shrine was built and furnished with royal memorial portraits. Rather than portray the physical likeness of the ruler, such portraits would depict the king or queen in the guise of a deity, to reflect that after death they had become one with the god. Among the various Hindu deities represented were Shiva, his consort Parvati, or sometimes a joint portrait of king and queen together as Ardhanari, the half-male/half-female composite of Shiva and Parvati. At shrines that combined Hindu and Buddhist deities, a princess or queen might be shown in the form of the Buddhist goddess of transcendent wisdom, Prajnaparamita.
The serene expression and exquisite crown and jewelry of this head are features common to many royal and divine figures. The statue's body would have confirmed gender and, together with the gestures and attributes of arms and hands, would have enabled identification of the particular deity.Majapahit period97.071_d0535ab_025