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The Goddess Durga Slaying Mahisha

14th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 252
Durga, the supreme goddess, is armed with the magical weapons lent to her by the assembly of male gods to do battle with the buffalo demon Mahisha. Here, she is seen transfixing him with Shiva’s trident (trisula). The sculptor’s ability to evoke the energy and vitality of the enraged goddess as she wields her weapons in a frenzy of destruction ranks this work among the finest versions of the subject.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Goddess Durga Slaying Mahisha
  • Date: 14th century
  • Culture: Nepal
  • Medium: Copper alloy
  • Dimensions: H. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm); W. 12 3/16 in. (31 cm); D. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Zimmerman Family Collection, Gift of the Zimmerman Family, 2012
  • Object Number: 2012.444.1
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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