Sculptures at Angkor National Museum:
We are back at the Angkor museum for an exhibit which is on permanent loan from the National Museum in Phnom Penh since 2007. This statue of Shiva with his unfortunately headless spouse Uma (a coupling known as Umamahesvara), is quite a rare exhibit, with a similar though better-quality image from Banteay Srei currently displayed in the capital (where Uma has also lost her head). As a couple they are often shown riding on the back on Nandin the bull on decorative lintels, but in this 100-centimeter tall sandstone sculpture, Shiva’s diminutive wife is sat on his left knee, with her legs folded to her left while her right hand rests on her husband’s shoulder. Shiva is wearing a pleated sampot with a large fold-over and butterfly knot at the back, has a third eye incised onto his forehead and his braided hair in a bun on top of his head. The exhibit, dated to the 11th century Baphuon art style, was located at a five-tower brick temple, Prasat Kok Ta Ro (also known as Prasat Don Ap) in Krabei Riel, Puok district, just outside Siem Reap and was first brought to the museum in 1955, but was considerably damaged at that time. At one point both heads were missing, as were the right arm and leg of Shiva, and his left knee. However, Shiva’s head was identified and affixed, as were his legs by the stone conservation team by 1969. Regrettably, Uma’s head and Shiva’s right arm remain unaccounted for. A second unusual and rare object found at the same temple - Prasat Kok Ta Ro – and at the same time (1955), is this earthenware bowl, with a praying figure in high relief on the inside indicating that it was likely used in religious ceremonies at the temple. I’ve not seen this style of bowl before and cannot find a similarly decorated object in the museum archives.
