Central Vietnam (Champa), Quang Nam province, Dong Duong monastery / 850–75
Enthroned planetary deity
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Enthroned planetary deity as sculpture (Central Vietnam (Champa), Quang Nam province, Dong Duong monastery · 850–75).
Sanskrit dedicatory inscriptions show that the temple and monastery complex at Dong Duong founded in 875.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as Sandstone.
The museum's collection notes: Enthroned Planetary Deity is a powerful presence about three feet tall, made of a light-colored sandstone. He is a personification of one of the nine planets that protected a Buddhist temple; the short dagger in his left hand along with the mustache and stylized furrowed brow refer to his role as a fierce protector. His posture is that of royal ease, and his crown, massive earrings, and throne also mark him as a king of the heavens. The mark on his forehead refers to his association with enlightened beings. The meaning of a planetary deity as a guardian pertains to the consecration of the temple at a time when the planets were correctly align
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtEnthroned planetary deityOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.