Sri lanka : SIGIRIYA

SEEGIRIYA

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos),which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.The Mahavanasa records that King Kasyapa, having killed his farther to gain the throne, lived in terror that his half-brother, who had taken refuge in India, would return to kill him. He did come back, after 18 years, to find that Kashyapa had built a combination of pleasure palace and massive fortress. Kasyapa come down from the hill to face his half-brother's army on elephant back. Mistakenly thinking he had been abounded, he killed himself with his dagger

                                                                                       Sigiriya has also earned renown for its ‘mirror wall’ on which hundreds of visitors to Sigirya expressed their appreciation of Sigiriya by inscribing their feelings on the Mirror. These have been collected and published in ‘ Sigiri Graffiti’, the famous Archeologist of Sri Lanka ,Dr. Senarath Paranawithana

sigiriya is mainly renowned for it’s frescos. There are several theories to

explain whom these ladies represent . Some believe that the ladies in these frescoes depict King Kashyapa’s queens in his harem. The influence of paintings of Royalty and religious theme of South Asia could be observed in these frescos..