HEAD STATUE

This is the head of a stone sculpture, crafted around the middle of the 8th or during the 9th century. It shows a broad forehead, head ornaments and elongated ears, held down by a pair of earrings. The head was found in one of the pseudo-niches, surrounding the roof of the temple of Bima. The structure of the temple's roof resembles a cone, while the pseudo niches, which are referred to as kudu or gavaksa, serve as temple ornamentation, similar to what can be found in India. In addition to stone heads, these niches may also contain other ornaments, like flower buds or vases.
The Bima Temple which, at an altitude of more than 2000 meter above sea level, is located at the southern side of Central Java's Dieng Plateau was built by followers of the Hindu faith. The name ‘Dieng’ stems from the term di hyang, and refers to ‘the dwelling of the gods’.