Archaeologists find ancient linga statue

via Phnom Penh Post, 21 May 2019: Statue of a linga discovered in Kratie province.

An archeological team has found a metre-long tipless stone linga (penis) of the Hindu deity Shiva in the foundations of a temple in Kratie province’s historical Samphu Borak area, a former capital of the pre-Angkor Empire Chenla period.

Thuy Chanthourn, the deputy director of the Institute of Arts and Culture and the team leader, told The Post on Sunday that the find was important as the tip of the sculpture was likely to have been originally covered in a precious metal, which had probably been removed by robbers.

This made it different from other such artefacts in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, the Angkor Conservation Centre and other museums across Cambodia.

“Friends of mine who are experts of the Angkor era said the linga sculpture was unusual as it was found without its tip, which was likely to have been originally covered in a precious metal.”

Source: Archeologists find ancient phallic statue, National, Phnom Penh Post