Anonymous

Indian

Hanuman the Monkey-Headed God

19th Century

Stone

Gift of Dr. Mark Sheppard

1967.160

Many strange hybrid-figures, part human, part animal, represent deities in Asia. Both Chinese and Japanese art also have representations of the monkey-king.

In India, the monkey-headed god is a follower of Rama, the 7th avatar of Vishnu. In the Indian epic poem, the Ramayana, it is Hanuman, who uses his army to help Rama recover his bride from the demon king.

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