Khmer Lingam

Sandstone

Cambodia

12th-13th century

This lingham is a phallic representation of the Hindu god Shiva, it is segmented into three parts, each representing one of the gods of the Hindu Trimurti. The square base, symbolic of Brahma, represents the creation of the universe, while the octagonal middle section, symbolic of Vishnu, represents the preservation of the universe. The round tip, symbolic of Shiva, represents the destruction of the universe and the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction that is the essence of the Hindu religion.

Provenance The Moss Collection