Difference between revisions of "Sigiriya" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox World Heritage Site
 
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
 
|Name        = Ancient City of Sigiriya
 
|Name        = Ancient City of Sigiriya
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|Image      = [[Image:IMG 3489.jpg|frameless|Sigiriya Rock from the main public entrance]]
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|Image      = [[Image:Matale district.svg|thumb|200px|right|Location of Matale District]]
 
|State Party = {{SRI}}
 
|State Party = {{SRI}}
 
|Type        = Cultural
 
|Type        = Cultural
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|Link        = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202
 
|Link        = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202
 
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'''Sigiriya''' (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and ruins of a castle situated in central [[Matale District]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. It is a popular tourist destination and also popular for the ancient paintings ''(frescos)'' very similar to the paintings in [[Ajanta Caves]] of [[India]]. It was built during the reign of King Kasyapa (477 &ndash; 495 C.E.) and one of the seven [[World Heritage Site]]s in Sri Lanka.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-1">{{cite web  | title = UNESCO page - Ancient City of Sigiriya | publisher = UNESCO.org | url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202 | format =html  | accessdate = 2008-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaexplorers.com/srilanka/sigiriya.htm|title=Exploring Sigiriya Rock|work=AsiaExplorers.com|accessdate=2008-05-05}}</ref>
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'''Sigiriya''' '''(Lion's rock)''' is a rock fortress and ruins of a [[palace]] situated in central [[Matale District]] of [[Sri Lanka]] dating to the fifth century B.C.E.. Although the history of the building of the [[fortress]], palace, and [[Buddhist monastery|monastery]] is unclear, most probably it was built by King [[Kasyapa]] (477&ndash;495 C.E.) of the [[Moriyan dynasty]] as a fortress and palace. After Kasyapa's death, the fortress was converted into a Buddhist monastery and served for the next eight hundred years when it was abandoned in the fourteenth century. Rediscovered by [[British]] explorer [[John Still]] in 1907, the site has undergone extensive archeological work, opened to researchers, scholars, and visitors.
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Located on a prominent hill standing 370 m above the plane surrounding it, Sigiriya makes a striking appearance. The site has tremendous cultural and historical significance. Its western rock face, 140 m long and 40 m high, has won acclaim for the abundant erotic [[fresco]]es that are strikingly similar to the paintings in [[Ajanta Caves]] of [[India]]. Sigiriya has an upper palace that sits at the top of the rock, a mid level terrace, a lower palace with [[gardens]], [[moats]], and walls at the base of the rock. The [[architects]] created a sophisticated [[reservoir]] and [[garden]] system for aesthetic beauty, drinking [[water]], and air cooling. When Sigiriya converted to a [[monastery]] after King [[Kasyapa]]'s death, [[Buddhist monks]] removed many of the [[erotic paintings]] as out of keeping for a place of religious practice. [[UNESCO]] designated Sigiriya a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1982, one of seven [[World Heritage site]]s in [[Sri Lanka]].
  
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==History==
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Sigiriya, inhabited from prehistoric times, has been used as a rock-shelter mountain [[monastery]] from about the fifth century C.E. King [[Kashyapa]] built the garden and palace. Following Kasyapa's death, the site again became a monastery complex until abandoned in the fourteenth century.
  
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Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain [[monastery]] from about the 5th century B.C.E., with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist [[Sangha]].
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British explorer John Still rediscovered the ruins in 1907. Archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana deciphered the Sigiri inscriptions, publishing an authoritative two volume work, "Sigiri Graffiti."<ref>Ceylon Archaeological Dept. and Senarat Paranavitana, ''Sigiri Graffiti; Being Sinhalese Verses of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Centuries'' (London: Published for the Govt. of Ceylon by Oxford University Press, 1956, OCLC 889931).</ref> He also wrote the popular book "Story of Sigiriya."<ref>Sri Lanka Library, [http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/sigiriya.html The Story of Sigiriya: WWW Virtual Library Sri Lanka.] Retrieved September 7, 2008.</ref>
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The garden and palace were built by Kashyapa. Following Kasyapa's death, it was again a monastery complex up to about the 14th century, after which it was abandoned. The ruins were discovered in 1907 by British explorer [[John Still (explorer)|John Still]]. The Sigiri inscriptions were deciphered by the archeologist [[Senarath Paranavithana]] who published a renowned two volume work, published by Oxford, known as "Sigiri Graffiti." He also wrote the popular book "Story of Sigiriya".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/sigiriya.html|title=The Story of Sigiriya|work=WWW Virtual Library Sri Lanka|accessdate=2008-05-05}}
 
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The [[Mahavansa]], the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. Kasyapa murdered his father by walling him alive and then usurping the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallana, Dhatusena's son by the true queen. Mogallana fled to India to escape being assassinated by Kasyapa but vowed revenge. In India he raised an army with the intention of returning and retaking the throne of Sri Lanka which was rightfully his. Knowing the inevitable return of Mogallana, Kasyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress and pleasure palace. Mogallana finally arrived and declared war. During the battle Kasyapa's armies abandoned him and he committed suicide by falling on his sword. Chronicles and lore say that the battle-elephant on which Kasyapa was mounted changed the course just to get to a better fighting position/place but the army misinterpreted it as the King fleeing. Thereafter the army abandoned the king altogether. Moggallana returned the capital to Anuradapura and turned Sigiriya into a monastery complex.
 
  
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Alternative stories have the primary builder of Sigiriya as King Dhatusena, with Kasyapa finishing the work in honour of his father. Still other stories have Kasyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a pleasure palace. Even Kasyapa's eventual fate is mutable. In some versions he is assassinated by poison administered by a concubine. In others he cuts his own throat when isolated in his final battle.
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[[Mahavansa]], the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. Kasyapa murdered his father by walling him alive into a room, proceeding to usurp the throne from to his brother Mogallana, the rightful heir to the throne. Mogallana, fleing to India to escape assassinating by Kasyapa, vowed revenge. He raised an army in India, intending to return and reclaim the throne of Sri Lanka. Planning for Mogallana's return with an army, Kasyapa built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress.  
  
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.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-ASIAN-TRIB">{{cite web | title = The Sigiriya Story | publisher = Asian Tribune | url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202 | format =html  | accessdate = 2006-11-24}}</ref>
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Mogallana attacked with his army. Chronicles relate that Kasyapa's [[battle-elephant]] changed direction to get a better fighting position, but the army misinterpreted it as the king fleeing. His armies abandoning him, Kasyapa committed suicide by falling on his sword. Moggallana returned the capital to Anuradapura and turned Sigiriya into a monastery complex.
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Still further interpretations have the site as the work of a Buddhist community, with no military function at all. This site may have been important in the competition between the [[Mahayana]] and [[Theravada]] Buddhist traditions in ancient Sri Lanka
 
  
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Kasyapa's actual fate has been difficult to ascertain. One version relates that a concubine assassinated him with poison. Another has him cutting his own throat when faced with inevitable capture during his final battle.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-ASIAN-TRIB">UNESCO, [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202 The Sigiriya Story.] Retrieved December 15, 2008.</ref>
  
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The site located in [[Central Province]], [[Matale District]](N7 57 00)(E80 45 00) co-ordinates.
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Several versions of the building of Sigiriya exist. In one account, King Dhatusena had been the ruler to begin building Sigiriya, with Kasyapa finishing the work in honor of his father. Still another account portrays Kasyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a pleasure palace. In another account, the site had been created by a Buddhist community, with no military function at all. All in all, the historical background for Sigiriya has been difficult to unravel.
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<ref name="SIGIRIYA-3">{{cite web  | title = World Heritage Tour page - Sigiriya | publisher =  World Heritage Tour  | url = http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/lk/sigiriya/map.html | format =html  | accessdate = 2008-01-18}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Archaeological remains and features==
 
==Archaeological remains and features==
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[[Image:IMG 3564.jpg|thumb|Aerial View]]
 
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Sigiriya rock is the hardened [[volcanic plug|magma plug]] from an extinct and long-eroded [[volcano]]. It stands high above the surrounding plain, visible for miles in all directions. The rock rests on a steep mound that rises abruptly from the flat plain surrounding it. The rock itself rises 370m and is sheer on all sides, in many places overhanging the base. It is elliptical in plan and has a flat top that slopes gradually along the long axis of the ellipse.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-2">{{cite web  | title = Encyclopædia Britannica Article about Sigiriya | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica  | url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9067705/Sigiriya | format =html  | accessdate = 2008-01-18}}</ref>
 
  
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Sigiriya consists of an ancient castle built by King Kasyapa during the 5th century AD. The Sigiriya site has the remains of an upper palace sited on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes, the lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock, and the [[moat]]s, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of metres out from the base of the rock.
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Sigiriya rock, a hardened [[volcanic plug|magma plug]] from an extinct and long-eroded [[volcano]], stands high above a surrounding plain visible for miles in all directions. The rock, resting on a steep mound, rises 370 meters. With sheer wall on all sides, the rock overhangs its base in many places.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-2">Encyclopædia Britannica, [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9067705/Sigiriya Sigiriya.] Retrieved January 18, 2008.</ref>
  
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The site is both a palace and fortress. Sufficient remains to provide the visitor with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders.
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Sigiriya, consisting of the remains of an ancient castle built by King Kasyapa during the fifth century C.E. The remains include:
 +
:*An upper palace siting on the flat top of the rock. The upper palace includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water.
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:*A mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes
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:*The lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock
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:*The [[moat]]s, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of meters out from the base of the rock. They have retained much of their original exquisite beautiful.<ref>Epoch Times, [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/5-5-4/28449.html Sri Lanka: Slip Into Antiquity.] Retrieved May 4, 2005.</ref>
  
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The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are still exquisitely beautiful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.epochtimes.com/news/5-5-4/28449.html|title=Sri Lanka: Slip Into Antiquity|work=The Epoch Times|accessdate=2005-05-04}}</ref>
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The site most likely served as both a palace and fortress. Reasonably well preserved, Sigiriya provides the visitor with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and [[creativity]] of its builders.
  
 
===Site plan===
 
===Site plan===
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[[Image:Sigiriya Rock.jpg|thumb|The Sigiriya Rock seen from the Gardens]]
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[[Image:Sigiriya Rock.jpg|thumb|right|180px|The Sigiriya Rock seen from the Gardens]]
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Sigiriya is considered as one of the most important sites of urban planning of the first millennium, the site plan is considered very elaborate and imaginative. The planning had combined concepts of symmetry and asymmetry to intentionally interlock the geometrical plan and the natural form of the surroundings. The west side of the rock lies a park for the royals which is symmetrically planned, the park contains water retaining structures which includeds sophisticated sub/surface hydraulic systems of which some are working even today. The south contains a man made reservoir, these were extensively used from previous capital of the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Five gates were placed at entrances. The more elaborate western gate is thought to be reserved for the royals.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-OBSERVER">{{cite web  | title = Sigiriya - The fortress in the sky| publisher = Sunday Observer | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/10/10/juniorob06.html| format =html  | accessdate = 2004-10-10}}</ref> <ref name="SIGIRIYA-Buddhanet">{{cite web  | title = Sigiriya| publisher = BuddhaNet| url = http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/sigiriya.html| format =html  | accessdate = 2008-02-28}}</ref> <ref name="SIGIRIYA-OBSERVER2">{{cite web  | title = Sigiriya: the most spectacular site in South Asia| publisher = Sunday Observer | url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/08/03/fea03.asp|format =html  | accessdate = 2006-08-03}}</ref>
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Archaeologists consider Sigiriya one of the most important urban sites of the first millennium, revealing an elaborate and imaginative city plan. The architects interlocked the symmetry of the fort with the natural surroundings. On the west side of the rock, the designers placed a royal park. Some of reservoirs, including sophisticated underground channels, still function. The south side reveals a man made reservoir of the type used extensively in dry zones of ancient Sri Lanka. Five gates mark entrances to the city, the more elaborate western gate most likely reserved for royalty.<ref name="SIGIRIYA-OBSERVER">Sunday Observer, Sigiriya—the Fortress in the Sky.</ref>
  
 
===The Gardens===
 
===The Gardens===
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The landscape of the Sigiriya city is considered to one of the most important aspects of the site, the gardens are one of the oldest landscaped gardens of the world. Gardens take three distinct but linked forms they are Water, Cave and boulder gardens. The water gardens are the more sophisticated in design and can be seen in the western precinct. The water gardens contained pools of various depths with streams flowing over slabs of marble. Underground hydraulic systems provide water into the fountains which even operate today. Other water gardens found combines pavilions with water courses which were used to cool the pavilions. Boulder gardens had a different design concept to the water gardens, the gardens included pathways, pavilions etc.
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The landscaped gardens of the Sigiriya city, considered one of the most important aspects of the site, stand among the oldest in the world. The architects created three types of gardens: Water, cave and stone. The water gardens, with pools of various depths, has streams flowing over slabs of marble. Underground channels, which still operate, provide water to the fountains. Other water gardens use channels to cool the pavilions. Stone gardens integrate pathways with pavilions and ponds.
  
 
===The Mirror Wall===
 
===The Mirror Wall===
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[[Image:The Mirror Wall & Spiral Stairs leading to the Frescoes.jpg|thumb|The Mirror Wall & Spiral Stairs leading to the Frescos]]
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[[Image:The Mirror Wall & Spiral Stairs leading to the Frescoes.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The Mirror Wall & Spiral Stairs leading to the Frescos]]
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[[Image:Sigiriya ladies.jpg|thumb|Part of the Frescos]]
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<!--[[Image:Sigiriya ladies.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Part of the Frescos]]—>
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Originally this wall was so well polished, the king could see himself whilst he walked alongside it. Made of a kind of porcelain, the mirror wall now contains verses scribbled by visitors to the rock. Well preserved it has verses dating from the 8th century. People of all types wrote on the mirror wall, they took to varying subjects like love, irony, experiences of all sorts. It has now been banned to write on the mirror wall.
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Originally the wall had been so well polished that the king could see himself while walking alongside it. Made of porcelain, the mirror wall contains verses scribbled by visitors to the rock dating from the eighth century. People from all walks of life wrote on the mirror wall, reflecting on subjects like love, irony, and every day experiences. The Sri Lanka government has prohibited further writing on the Mirror Wall.
  
 
===Frescos===
 
===Frescos===
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John Still in 1907 had observed that;
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The paintings originally covered most of the western face of the rock, an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high. Some of the graffiti on Mirror Wall refers to those paintings which depict 500 ladies. Many of them have been images of women have been destroyed, removed when the Palace reconverted to a Monastery so that they would not disturb meditation.
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"The whole face of the hill appears to have been a gigantic picture gallery... the largest picture in the world perhaps."
 
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The paintings would have covered most of the western face of the rock, covering an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high.  
 
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There are references in the graffiti to 500 ladies in these paintings. However, many more are lost forever, having been wiped out when the Palace once more became a Monastery so that they would not disturb meditation.
 
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Classified as in the [[Anuradhapura]] period but the painting style technique used to paint is considered unique. The line and application style of the paintings differ from the Anuradhapura paintings. The lines are painted in a form which enhances the sense of volumeness of figures. The paint has been applied in sweeping action strokes using more pressure on one side giving the effect of a deeper colour tone towards the edge. Other paintings of the Anuradhapura period contains similar approaches to painting but they do not have the sketchy nature of the sigiriya lines as the painting of the Anuradhapura period has a distinct line which was the artists boundary which does not resemble that of the Sigiriya style.
 
  
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The paintings, dated to the [[Anuradhapura]] period, possess a unique painting style, the line and style differing from typical Anuradhapura paintings. The lines have been painted in a form which enhances the sense of fullness of figures. The paint has been applied in sweeping action strokes using more pressure on one side giving the effect of a deeper color tone towards the edge. Other paintings of the Anuradhapura period contain similar painting techniques. But they lack the sketchy nature of the Sigiriya drawings, as the painting of the Anuradhapura period uses a technique of drawing distinct lines.
  
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* Sigiriya is used as the location of many of the events in the science-fiction novel [[The Fountains of Paradise]] by [[Arthur C. Clarke]], although Clarke changed the name to Yakkagala in the book.
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==Gallery==
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==Further reading==
 
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*''Story of Sigiriya'', by Professor Senerath Paranavitana.
 
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*''The Mystique of Sigiriya: Whispers of the Mirror Wall'', by W. J. M. Lokubandara <ref name="SIGIRIYA-OBSERVER3">{{cite web  | title = The Mystique of Sigiriya: Whispers of the Mirror Wall| publisher = Sunday Observer | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/02/10/imp12.asp|format =html  | accessdate = 2008-02-10}}</ref>
 
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== See also ==
 
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*[http://www.sigiripintura.itgo.com/ Sigiriya - The Lion Mountain]
 
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*[[Place names in Sri Lanka]]
 
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*[http://www.pbase.com/tcom/srisigiriya Dominique Schreckling-PBase Photo Gallery]
 
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*[[Tourism in Sri Lanka]]
 
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==References==
 
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{{Reflist}}
 
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==External links==
 
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{{Commons|Sigiriya}}
 
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* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/sigiriya.html  Sigiriya and its Significance Review by Dr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne]
 
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*[http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=77.html Discover Sri Lanka - More Information & Images about Sigiriya]
 
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*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202 Official UNESCO website entry]
 
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*[http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/arch_assets.html Department of Archaeology Sri Lanka]
 
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*[http://sigiriya.org/ website of Sigiriya, the 'Mount of Remembrance']
 
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6L-Hf4Ab8 Video: Digital recreation of what Sigiriya may have looked like]
 
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*[http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/sigiriya.html Sigiriya photos in FOTOSEARCH.com]
 
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*[http://sigiriya.org/ Sigiriya.org]
 
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*[http://www.holymtn.com/SriLanka/lionrock.htm The History of the Lion Rock]
 
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*[http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/sigiriya.html The Story of Sigiriya]
 
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*[http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/sasia/mbw/sri_lanka/Sri%20Lanka%20Lecture%20Pages/frescoes.htm The Mary B. Wheeler Collection, University of Pennsylvania Library]
 
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*[http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/sigiriya/sigiri7.htm Sigiriya Narratives]
 
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*[http://www.remyc.com/sigiriya.html The Citadel City]
 
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*[http://www.saadhu.com/sigiriya/ Sigiriya - The Lion Mountain]
 
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*[http://www.srilankatourism.org/lang/en/traveller/culture_ancientcities.php Sri Lanka Tourist Board - Ancient Cities]
 
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*[http://www.tourslanka.com/Sigiriya.htm Sigiriya The palace and fortress in the sky]
 
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*[http://www.geocities.com/place.names/index.html A List of traditional names of cities in Sri Lanka]
 
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*[http://www.sigiripintura.itgo.com/ About Sigiriya Kingdom & Photos]
 
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{{World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka}}
 
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==Image gallery==
 
 
===Outer Gardens and Moat===
 
===Outer Gardens and Moat===
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<center>
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Sigiriya_WaterGardens.JPG|View of one of the pools in the garden complex
 
Image:Sigiriya_WaterGardens.JPG|View of one of the pools in the garden complex
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Image:Sigiriya moat and garden3.jpg|View of the moat
 
Image:Sigiriya moat and garden3.jpg|View of the moat
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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</center>
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The complex is surrounded by an extensive set of walls and man made pools.
 
  
 
===Gardens===
 
===Gardens===
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<center>
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Image:SriLanka Sigiriya gardens.jpg|A pool in the garden complex
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<!--Image:SriLanka Sigiriya gardens.jpg|A pool in the garden complex (too large)—>
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Image:SriLanka Sigiriya gardens2.jpg|A pool in the garden complex
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<!--Image:SriLanka Sigiriya gardens2.jpg|A pool in the garden complex (too large)—>
 
Image:Sigiriya gardens 3.jpg|View across the gardens  
 
Image:Sigiriya gardens 3.jpg|View across the gardens  
 
Image:Sigiriya garden from top.jpg|View of the garden complex from the top of Sigiriya rock
 
Image:Sigiriya garden from top.jpg|View of the garden complex from the top of Sigiriya rock
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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</center>
  
 
===Lower Palace===
 
===Lower Palace===
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<center>
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Sigiriya, lower palace.jpg|Ruins at the foot of Sigiriya Rock
 
Image:Sigiriya, lower palace.jpg|Ruins at the foot of Sigiriya Rock
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Image:Sigiriya monks cell2.jpg|A monk's cell in the Lower Palace
 
Image:Sigiriya monks cell2.jpg|A monk's cell in the Lower Palace
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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</center>
  
 
===Mirror Wall and Lion Gate===
 
===Mirror Wall and Lion Gate===
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<center>
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Way up.jpg|Stairway
 
Image:Way up.jpg|Stairway
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Image:WAy Down.jpg|Towards the Mirror Wall
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<!--Image:Sigiriya_mirror_wall1.jpg|The terrace below the mirror wall—>
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Image:Sigiriya_mirror_wall1.jpg|The terrace below the mirror wall
 
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Image:IMG_3525.jpg|View from the side of the Mirror wall
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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</center>
  
 
===Paintings (Frescos)===
 
===Paintings (Frescos)===
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<gallery>
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Image:IMG 3515.JPG
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<!--
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Image:Sigiri Frescos 1.JPG
 
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Image:Sigiri Frescos.jpg
 
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Image:IMG 3512.JPG
 
 
Image:IMG 3516.jpg
 
Image:IMG 3516.jpg
 
Image:IMG 3518.jpg
 
Image:IMG 3518.jpg
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Image:SigiriyaFrescos12.JPG
 
Image:SigiriyaFrescos12.JPG
 
Image:SigiriyaFrescos2.JPG
 
Image:SigiriyaFrescos2.JPG
−
</gallery>
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—>
  
 
===Top of the Rock===
 
===Top of the Rock===
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<center>
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Palace Ruins.JPG|Summit ruins
 
Image:Palace Ruins.JPG|Summit ruins
 
Image:IMG 3549.jpg|View over the gardens from the summit
 
Image:IMG 3549.jpg|View over the gardens from the summit
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Image:Sigiriya_royal_pool1.jpg|The rock cut pool
 
 
Image:Sigiriya_summit_ruins2.jpg|Summit ruins
 
Image:Sigiriya_summit_ruins2.jpg|Summit ruins
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
</center>
  
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==News==
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== See also ==
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*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6970173.stm Wasp Attacks on tourists at Sigiriya ]
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* [[World Heritage Site]]
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* [[Sri Lanka]]
 +
 
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
* Bandaranayake, Senake. 1999. ''Sigiriya: City, Palace, and Royal Gardens.'' Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs. ISBN 9789556131116.
 +
* Bopearachchi, Osmund. 2006. ''The Pleasure Gardens of Sigiriya: A New Approach.'' Colombo: Godage Book Emporium. ISBN 9789552096419.
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* Ceylon Archaeological Dept., and Senarat Paranavitana. 1956. ''Sigiri Graffiti; Being Sinhalese Verses of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Centuries.'' London: Published for the Govt. of Ceylon by Oxford University Press. OCLC 889931.
 +
* De Silva, R. H. 2004. ''Archaeological Guide to Sigiriya.'' Colombo: Bibliotheque (Pvt.) Ltd. ISBN 9789558655023.
 +
* De Silva, R. H. 1971. ''Sigiriya.'' Colombo: Dept. of Archaeology. OCLC 572596.
 +
* De Silva, R. H. 2002. ''Sigiriya and its Significance: A Mahayana-Theravada Buddhist Monastery.'' Nawala: Bibliotheque. ISBN 9789558655016.
 +
* Lokubaṇḍāra, Vi. Ja. Mu, and Patrick Ratnayake. 2007. ''The Mystique of Sīgiriya: Whispers of the Mirror Wall.'' Colombo: Godage International Publishers. ISBN 9789553006103.
 +
* Murphy, Richard. 1989. ''The Mirror Wall.'' Winston-Salem, N.C. USA: Wake Forest University Press. ISBN 9780916390365.
 +
* Paranavitana, Senarat. 1972. ''Ānanda-shtavira''. OCLC 164946751.
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
All links retrieved January 29, 2023.
 +
* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202 Official UNESCO website entry].
 +
* [http://sigiriya.org/ Sigiriya, the 'Mount of Remembrance'].
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6L-Hf4Ab8 Video: Digital recreation of what Sigiriya may have looked like].
 +
* [http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/sigiriya.html Sigiriya photos in FOTOSEARCH.com].
 +
* [http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/sigiriya.html The Story of Sigiriya].
 +
* [http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/sigiriya/sigiri7.htm Sigiriya Narratives].  
 +
* [http://www.remyc.com/sigiriya.html The Citadel City].
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* [http://www.tourslanka.com/Sigiriya.htm Sigiriya The palace and fortress in the sky].
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{{World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka}}
  
 
[[Category:World Heritage Sites]]
 
[[Category:World Heritage Sites]]

Latest revision as of 20:09, 21 April 2023

Coordinates: 7°57′25″N 80°45′35″E / 7.95694, 80.75972

Ancient City of Sigiriya*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location of Matale District
State Party Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iii, iv
Reference 202
Region** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1982  (6th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is a rock fortress and ruins of a palace situated in central Matale District of Sri Lanka dating to the fifth century B.C.E. Although the history of the building of the fortress, palace, and monastery is unclear, most probably it was built by King Kasyapa (477–495 C.E.) of the Moriyan dynasty as a fortress and palace. After Kasyapa's death, the fortress was converted into a Buddhist monastery and served for the next eight hundred years when it was abandoned in the fourteenth century. Rediscovered by British explorer John Still in 1907, the site has undergone extensive archeological work, opened to researchers, scholars, and visitors.

Located on a prominent hill standing 370 m above the plane surrounding it, Sigiriya makes a striking appearance. The site has tremendous cultural and historical significance. Its western rock face, 140 m long and 40 m high, has won acclaim for the abundant erotic frescoes that are strikingly similar to the paintings in Ajanta Caves of India. Sigiriya has an upper palace that sits at the top of the rock, a mid level terrace, a lower palace with gardens, moats, and walls at the base of the rock. The architects created a sophisticated reservoir and garden system for aesthetic beauty, drinking water, and air cooling. When Sigiriya converted to a monastery after King Kasyapa's death, Buddhist monks removed many of the erotic paintings as out of keeping for a place of religious practice. UNESCO designated Sigiriya a World Heritage Site in 1982, one of seven World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka.

History

Sigiriya, inhabited from prehistoric times, has been used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the fifth century C.E. King Kashyapa built the garden and palace. Following Kasyapa's death, the site again became a monastery complex until abandoned in the fourteenth century.

British explorer John Still rediscovered the ruins in 1907. Archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana deciphered the Sigiri inscriptions, publishing an authoritative two volume work, "Sigiri Graffiti."[1] He also wrote the popular book "Story of Sigiriya."[2]

Mahavansa, the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. Kasyapa murdered his father by walling him alive into a room, proceeding to usurp the throne from to his brother Mogallana, the rightful heir to the throne. Mogallana, fleing to India to escape assassinating by Kasyapa, vowed revenge. He raised an army in India, intending to return and reclaim the throne of Sri Lanka. Planning for Mogallana's return with an army, Kasyapa built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress.

Mogallana attacked with his army. Chronicles relate that Kasyapa's battle-elephant changed direction to get a better fighting position, but the army misinterpreted it as the king fleeing. His armies abandoning him, Kasyapa committed suicide by falling on his sword. Moggallana returned the capital to Anuradapura and turned Sigiriya into a monastery complex.

Kasyapa's actual fate has been difficult to ascertain. One version relates that a concubine assassinated him with poison. Another has him cutting his own throat when faced with inevitable capture during his final battle.[3]

Several versions of the building of Sigiriya exist. In one account, King Dhatusena had been the ruler to begin building Sigiriya, with Kasyapa finishing the work in honor of his father. Still another account portrays Kasyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a pleasure palace. In another account, the site had been created by a Buddhist community, with no military function at all. All in all, the historical background for Sigiriya has been difficult to unravel.

Archaeological remains and features

Sigiriya rock, a hardened magma plug from an extinct and long-eroded volcano, stands high above a surrounding plain visible for miles in all directions. The rock, resting on a steep mound, rises 370 meters. With sheer wall on all sides, the rock overhangs its base in many places.[4]

Sigiriya, consisting of the remains of an ancient castle built by King Kasyapa during the fifth century C.E. The remains include:

  • An upper palace siting on the flat top of the rock. The upper palace includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water.
  • A mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes
  • The lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock
  • The moats, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of meters out from the base of the rock. They have retained much of their original exquisite beautiful.[5]

The site most likely served as both a palace and fortress. Reasonably well preserved, Sigiriya provides the visitor with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders.

Site plan

The Sigiriya Rock seen from the Gardens

Archaeologists consider Sigiriya one of the most important urban sites of the first millennium, revealing an elaborate and imaginative city plan. The architects interlocked the symmetry of the fort with the natural surroundings. On the west side of the rock, the designers placed a royal park. Some of reservoirs, including sophisticated underground channels, still function. The south side reveals a man made reservoir of the type used extensively in dry zones of ancient Sri Lanka. Five gates mark entrances to the city, the more elaborate western gate most likely reserved for royalty.[6]

The Gardens

The landscaped gardens of the Sigiriya city, considered one of the most important aspects of the site, stand among the oldest in the world. The architects created three types of gardens: Water, cave and stone. The water gardens, with pools of various depths, has streams flowing over slabs of marble. Underground channels, which still operate, provide water to the fountains. Other water gardens use channels to cool the pavilions. Stone gardens integrate pathways with pavilions and ponds.

The Mirror Wall

The Mirror Wall & Spiral Stairs leading to the Frescos

Originally the wall had been so well polished that the king could see himself while walking alongside it. Made of porcelain, the mirror wall contains verses scribbled by visitors to the rock dating from the eighth century. People from all walks of life wrote on the mirror wall, reflecting on subjects like love, irony, and every day experiences. The Sri Lanka government has prohibited further writing on the Mirror Wall.

Frescos

The paintings originally covered most of the western face of the rock, an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high. Some of the graffiti on Mirror Wall refers to those paintings which depict 500 ladies. Many of them have been images of women have been destroyed, removed when the Palace reconverted to a Monastery so that they would not disturb meditation.

The paintings, dated to the Anuradhapura period, possess a unique painting style, the line and style differing from typical Anuradhapura paintings. The lines have been painted in a form which enhances the sense of fullness of figures. The paint has been applied in sweeping action strokes using more pressure on one side giving the effect of a deeper color tone towards the edge. Other paintings of the Anuradhapura period contain similar painting techniques. But they lack the sketchy nature of the Sigiriya drawings, as the painting of the Anuradhapura period uses a technique of drawing distinct lines.

Gallery

Outer Gardens and Moat

  • View of one of the pools in the garden complex

  • View of the moat

  • View of the moat

  • View of the moat

Gardens

  • View across the gardens

  • View of the garden complex from the top of Sigiriya rock

Lower Palace

  • Ruins at the foot of Sigiriya Rock

  • A monk's cell in the Lower Palace

  • A monk's cell in the Lower Palace

Mirror Wall and Lion Gate

  • Stairway

Paintings (Frescos)

Top of the Rock

  • Summit ruins

  • View over the gardens from the summit

  • Summit ruins

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Ceylon Archaeological Dept. and Senarat Paranavitana, Sigiri Graffiti; Being Sinhalese Verses of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Centuries (London: Published for the Govt. of Ceylon by Oxford University Press, 1956, OCLC 889931).
  2. ↑ Sri Lanka Library, The Story of Sigiriya: WWW Virtual Library Sri Lanka. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  3. ↑ UNESCO, The Sigiriya Story. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  4. ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, Sigiriya. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  5. ↑ Epoch Times, Sri Lanka: Slip Into Antiquity. Retrieved May 4, 2005.
  6. ↑ Sunday Observer, Sigiriya—the Fortress in the Sky.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Bandaranayake, Senake. 1999. Sigiriya: City, Palace, and Royal Gardens. Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs. ISBN 9789556131116.
  • Bopearachchi, Osmund. 2006. The Pleasure Gardens of Sigiriya: A New Approach. Colombo: Godage Book Emporium. ISBN 9789552096419.
  • Ceylon Archaeological Dept., and Senarat Paranavitana. 1956. Sigiri Graffiti; Being Sinhalese Verses of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Centuries. London: Published for the Govt. of Ceylon by Oxford University Press. OCLC 889931.
  • De Silva, R. H. 2004. Archaeological Guide to Sigiriya. Colombo: Bibliotheque (Pvt.) Ltd. ISBN 9789558655023.
  • De Silva, R. H. 1971. Sigiriya. Colombo: Dept. of Archaeology. OCLC 572596.
  • De Silva, R. H. 2002. Sigiriya and its Significance: A Mahayana-Theravada Buddhist Monastery. Nawala: Bibliotheque. ISBN 9789558655016.
  • Lokubaṇḍāra, Vi. Ja. Mu, and Patrick Ratnayake. 2007. The Mystique of Sīgiriya: Whispers of the Mirror Wall. Colombo: Godage International Publishers. ISBN 9789553006103.
  • Murphy, Richard. 1989. The Mirror Wall. Winston-Salem, N.C. USA: Wake Forest University Press. ISBN 9780916390365.
  • Paranavitana, Senarat. 1972. Ānanda-shtavira. OCLC 164946751.

External links

All links retrieved January 29, 2023.

World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura · Galle and its Fortifications · Golden Temple of Dambulla · Kandy · Polonnaruwa · Sigiriya · Sinharaja Forest Reserve

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