Revanta, Son of Sun God Surya

This 10th-century bronze from Bangladesh depicts Revanta, a minor but fascinating Hindu deity who is the youngest son of Surya (the sun god). Revanta serves as the guardian deity of warriors and horses, protector from forest dangers, and patron god of hunting. He's chief of the Guhyakas, supernatural forest-dwelling beings. Unlike most Hindu deities depicted barefoot, Revanta wears boots reaching to his calves, a detail he shares only with his father Surya.

The boots may reflect Central Asian associations or origins. Worship of Revanta was especially common in medieval eastern India during the Pala period (8th-12th centuries), with archaeological evidence showing a dedicated cult beginning in the 6th century CE. He was typically shown as a huntsman on horseback, often with a hunting dog. The piece is at the Art Institute of Chicago, measuring about 9 by 7 inches.