Head of Shiva

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sandstone architectural elements of this type are a regular feature of Hindu temples constructed by the Cham kingdoms of central and southern Vietnam. The temples are typically single-cell sanctuaries with a tapering tower above. They are built of fired brick with sandstone doorjambs, tympanums, and in a characteristically Cham innovation, antefixes such as this one projecting from the tower.

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