Gupta period terracotta male head with pained expression, Pawāyā

<p>This fragmented image dates to <em>circa </em>the late fourth century CE (Gupta period). It once decorated the outer wall of a temple at Pawāyā (ancient Padmāvatī), in the Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. The head, which has become detached from its terracotta plaque, portrays a male wearing an expression of fear. It is likely that he represents a demonic character. This image might have been positioned on the lost temple, or on the walls of one of the three terraces belonging to the monumental platform which survives in a severely ruined state. The terracotta plaque fragment was recovered by M.B. Garde who excavated the monument intermittently between 1924 and 1941. The image is displayed at the State Museum of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal.</p>