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Back to An unusual Janus Khmer bronze 20-armed figure, mounted as a battle standard with attendant figures

1. An unusual Janus Khmer bronze 20-armed figure, mounted as a battle standard with attendant figures Khmer 12th-13th c. bronze 23cm

Detail:Side detail This unusual Khmer bronze has been mounted as a battle standard, seemingly at some time shortly after it was created. The back to back figure fits neatly in place and the whole is designed to be mounted on top of a pole. The base of the image is a finial depicting Vishnu on Garuda atop nagas with two apsara either side emerging from behind a mythical bird. Inserted into the top is a bronze composed of two identical figures joined back to back, with two sets of twenty arms, front and back, and ten heads. It may now be identified as a rare depiction in bronze of the demon king Tosakanth or Ravanna. In the episode of the Ramayana (Thai: Ramakien) known as "Pipek's allegiance to Rama" Lord Vishnu has challenged Ravanna to a duel on earth.

Back to An unusual Janus Khmer bronze 20-armed figure, mounted as a battle standard with attendant figures

all images © Fitzwilliam Ltd.

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