Karttikeya, the God of War

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Here, the god of war is in his youthful manifestation, with a dagger secured at his waist. He holds a javelin and rooster, the latter associated with speed and aggression. The tail feathers of his peacock are visible behind his feet. The handsome, young god has a Shiva-like chignon and large elliptical earplugs in the Indian manner of the sixth-century Gupta period.

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