Standing Male Deity (possibly Shiva)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Many of the attributes suggest that this god is Shiva. Unfortunately, other attributes that would lead to a definite identification are lacking. He holds a water pot in his left hand and a fruit—perhaps a pomegranate—in his right and wears a dagger at his waist. However, the flame-shaped mark on his forehead is not a third eye and he does not have an erect phallus. The massiveness of the body and hands seems to indicate a provincial version of the Gupta style practiced in Bihar.

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