Ganesha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

On festival days during the Chola period in south India, cast metal images of Hindu deities were carried in procession outside the temple precincts. This potbellied representation of Ganesha would most likely have accompanied a dancing image of his father, Shiva. Two of his hands grasp a lasso and a battle axe, symbols of his role as a rescuer and protector. His other two hands hold a sweet and one of his own tusks, which he broke off in a fit of anger.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art