France returns Hindu deity head to Cambodia

The stone sculpture is of Harihara, a deity combining aspects of Vishnu and Shiva, the two most important gods in the Hindu pantheon who represent the creation of the universe and its destruction. It was taken from the Phnom Da temple in southern Takeo province by French researchers in 1882 or 1883 and was displayed at France’s Guimet Museum. 

About 200 government officials, representatives of foreign governments, ambassadors and officials from the Guimet Museum attended the ceremony to reattach the head at the National Museum. “After it was separated 130 years ago, we are welcoming the reunification of the head and the torso of Harihara,” Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said at the ceremony. “According to our Khmer culture, the reunion is symbolic of prosperity.” 

He appealed to other countries that hold Cambodian artefacts to return them. In October, Cambodia welcomed the return of two stone statues from the Angkor period. A 9th century head of Shiva and a late 12th to early 13th century male divinity head sculptures were also handed over by Norwegian collector Morten Bosterud. 

In June 2014, three 1,000-year-old statues depicting Hindu mythology looted from a temple were brought back to the country. Cambodia was ruled by Hindu kings for centuries, and it was the main religion of the country before Buddhism took over. More than 90 percent of Cambodians today are Buddhists.