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A mythical creature with a warrior in its mouth
A mythical creature with a warrior in its mouth

A mythical creature with a warrior in its mouth

Place of OriginBinh Dinh province, Vietnam; Binh Dinh province, former kingdoms of Champa, former kingdoms of Champa
Dateapprox. 1075-1125
MaterialsSandstone
DimensionsH. 37 in x W. 39 1/2 in x D. 7 3/4 in, H. 94.0 cm x W. 100.3 cm x D. 19.7 cm
Credit LineGift of the Christensen Fund
Object numberBL77S1
DepartmentSoutheast Asian Art
ClassificationsSculpture
On View
On view
Location
  • Gallery Location   Gallery 9
Text Entries

These three sculptures were once attached to the wall of the shrine of a temple (probably Buddhist), now destroyed, in the territories of the Cham people in today’s Vietnam. The Cham people spoke a language
related to Indonesian, and were entirely distinct from the Vietnamese, against whom they struggled—ultimately unsuccessfully—for centuries.

Old drawings and photographs of the temple clearly show these sculptures positioned on the right side of a large niche in the center of the shrine wall. Their arrangement here matches, as closely as possible, their original placement.