Sigiriya Power Fort Sri Lanka
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (Sinha Gala Sinhala: Sigiriya, Tamil: சிகிரியா/சிங்ககிரி) is an ancient stone fort located in North Matale District, near the city of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka archaeological importance dominated by a massive rock column approximately 180 m (590 ft) high.
According to the Kulavansa, an ancient Lankan
chronicle, this area was once a vast forest, later turned into a mountain by
storms and Sri Lanka, and was chosen by King Kasyapa (477-495 AD) for his new
capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with
colorful murals. On a small plateau about half way up this rock he has built a
gate in the form of a huge lion The name of this place is derived from this
structure; Sinhagiri, Lion Rock (same etymology as Sinhapura, the Sanskrit name
for Singapore).
After the king's death, the capital and royal palace
were abandoned. It was used as a monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya is
today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of
ancient urban planning.
Geological Features
Sigiriya is a rock formed by cooled igneous rocks from an eroded volcano.Rising from the plain beside the canal, it can be seen for miles in any direction. It is situated on a steep building that rises suddenly
from the plain surrounding the rock. The rock is 180 meters high and steep on
all sides. Most of the sites are basally protruding. There is a slope running
gently down from the oval long guard shape
Sigiri Fort
Legend has it that Sigiriya was a fort built by King Kasyapa. Sigiri Fort has a long history and different opinions have been expressed by different people.
Major Stages
Kasyapa Era (5 BC-3 BC)
Kasyapa Era (497-475 BC)
Later Kasyapa Era (6-13 AD)
Unknown Age (13-17
AD)
Kandy Era (17-19
AD)
Modern Era (19th
century AD-Present)
The name Sinhagiri or
Sigiriya was attached to it as it was built in the style of a
Sinharaja at the foot of Maha Pawa, which protrudes to the
north with a dark color. In 1898, Mr. HCP Bell
stated that even the earliest archeologists of the modern
era were as fascinated as the ancients who visited
Sinharaja, even though they felt a sense of fear
extending miles away. It is clear from this song, written on
the mirror wall, that even if only the pair of lion's
arms are present, it is enough to feel a great feeling of
glory and power in someone.
Characteristics Seen
Moats
Sigiriya Mirror Wall
Sigiri Lalananas with
images of lions made of stone
The king's palace
in Parvata Mastaka
Archaeological ruins and special features
AD Sigiriya has an ancient palace built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century.
There is also a story that when King Kasyapa was
building the palace on top of Sigiriya, he found the
ruins of King Ravana's palace. There are ruins of that
palace on the flat surface of the rock. On the flat ground in
the middle there is a lion gate and mirrors with
inscriptions. The lower palace is built to lean against the
lower slope of the rock, with moat walls and gardens
extending hundreds of meters from the base of the rock.
This land has a palace and a fort. From the existing
sufficient ruins, it creates precious feelings about the
great ability and creativity of those who come to see it.
Sigiri land plan The Sigiri design can be seen as a
prime example of urban planning in the first millennium. The layout is
considered to be very beautiful and meticulously designed. It seems that in
preparing the plans, the concept of compatibility and incompatibility has been
carefully observed and combined with the geometrical plans and the location of
the surrounding natural objects. The garden on the western side of the rock is
fit for royalty. A water retention structure has
been created in the park. An underground water pressure system was used in
their preparation and some of these are still in use today. South of the rock
is a man-made reservoir. These types of reservoirs were used a lot in the dry
region of Sri Lanka before. There are five gates at the entry points to Sigiri
ground. It is believed that the western gate, which is beautifully finished,was reserved for royalty. It is built with an architectural design. Sigiriya is
also a fort. Sigiriya consists of water gorges, forest gorges, gorges etc. Giri
Durga means under the gorge.
Cultural significance of Sigiriya
Pre-Kashyapa due to the
fact that during the reign of King Mahasen (274-301 AD)
and King Kitsirimevan (301-328 AD) who lived before Kasyapa's reign, works such as the creation of
tanks and sangharamas were done in the areas near Sigiriya. It cannot be
believed that the Sigiri area had become anarchy at that time. But this area
started to be known as Sigiriya when it became the capital of King Kasyapa I.
On January 08, 1982, cultural triangle work was started with the contribution
of several institutions. In particular, the gathering of archeology groups in
universities and allowing young
archaeologists to contribute to those activities was also notable during this
period. The faculty members of the Department of Archeology of the University
of Kelaniya were given the direction of the archaeological work at Sigiriya. In
addition to this, other groups, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the
Department of Forestry, etc., have also been arranged for the support of other
groups for architectural work. After 1986, according to the collaborative
project called Settlement Archeology in Sigiri area, it was possible to reveal
a lot of information that had not been revealed in the research done in Sigiri
until then. This research, especially in the area around Sigiriya, was the
basis for further strengthening the history of Sigiriya. Sigiriya, which became
a world heritage city after the creation of the cultural triangle, has been
constantly attracting the attention of the world. When these incidents are compared,
it is clear that Sigiriya is culturally very important. That is why Sigiriya
has become a place that has attracted a lot of tourist attraction even today.
When explaining it further, as E. B. Tyler points out, "Culture is the
complex whole of knowledge, beliefs, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs and all
other abilities that are appreciated and developed by man as a member of society". Accordingly,
Sigiriya is extremely important in identifying these cultural factors that
existed in the 04-05 centuries AD. Simply put, Sigiriya is a cultural museum.
Special features of Sigiriya
♦Special features of Sigiriya
♦Urban planning
♦Security tactics
♦The contribution of environmental nexus
♦Cave design
♦Aachitecture of Toe Building
♦Form of using stone for design
♦Use of limestone
♦Use of bricks
♦5th century AD urban planning methods and landscape design methods
♦Engineering
♦Water technology (water park, water flowers, ponds)
♦Architecture
♦Arts and Literature (Glass Wall, Sigiri Murals, Lion's Foot)
♦Many cultural factors such as the life of the people at that time (things found during excavations, ornaments and clothes found in Sigiri paintings) are found in Sigiriya.
Many cultural factors such as the life of the people at that time (things found during excavations, ornaments and clothes found in Sigiri paintings) are found in Sigiriya. Emerson Tennant's description of Sigiriya in 1859 AD has given the appearance of Sigiriya he saw. It includes his description of the Sigiri Lake, Mirror Wall, Sigiri Stone, Diagul and the King's Palace, how it remains in ruins. Cultural treasures in Sigiriya.
Sigiriya being promoted as a stamp
The story of the Sigiri stone stamp begins
in 1938. The Sigiri stone begins its stamp life by first decorating the
background of a stamp with the image of King George VI who was the head of the
British rule at that time.
Then in the 50's, 60's and 80's in Sri Lanka
and in the recent past countries like India, England, Japan introduced the
stamps symbolizing the Sigiriya Fort to the world. It was priced at ten cents
in Ceylon then, but today the stamp is priced at 95 euro cents or 170 rupees.
Usage in France
The 40x26 mm horizontal small stamp with the UNESCO logo decorated with the Sigiriya fortress is priced at 95 euro cents, 50 stamps per image and 600,000 stamps were released to the French Post Office on November 12. The world sacred background of this stamp and its creator being a special collection recognized by the world, the Sigiri stamp occupied a special place in France as well as in the world.
69-year-old Frenchman John
Paul Verret Lemariniere is the designer of the
stamp featuring the Sigiriya fortress. As the father of
stamps in the world of French stamps, it was his creation
that was admired by the French people and the
reason for the above stamp to have a special place.
In 1977, he joined the post
and telecommunications research institute of
France after completing his higher education at Estienne
Faculty of Science in Paris, a well-known French science
faculty of decoration and arts and crafts.
The stamp featuring the fortress of Sigiriya, modeled on his fingertips, joined the world of French stamps with the international UNESCO logo.A special ceremony was also held at the International UNESCO headquarters in the city of Paris, where Sri Lanka's Ambassador to France, Professor Karunaratne Hagawatta, and other government officials participated. Today, French mail travels around the world under the protection of the Sigiriya fortress
Mainly, the Sigiri paintings are drawn on the western rock, and in addition paintings have been found in Deraniyagala Cave, Watura Bakkigala Cave, Naipena Cave (Parumaka Cave).
Sigiri
Murals
Sigiriya, created by King
Kasyapa who reigned in the late 5th century, has
succeeded in winning universal awards as the 8th wonder of
the world, delighting the hearts of connoisseurs both
then and now. Among the special ruins of Sigiriya,
the Sigiriya murals occupy a very important place.
These murals are among the earliest preserved in Sri
Lanka.
History
The special feature of the
Sigiri murals is that only the images of Sukumala Lalanas are slightly smaller
than human size and they are
only images that rise above the waist. Local ingredients have been used in
these paintings and ingredients commonly found in the dry region have been used
in the preparation of colors.That is, gokatu milk,
spider clay, Ranavara etc. The artist has not tried to depict the beauty of
nature in painting, and the artist's skill has been able to bring out the
three-dimensionality of the images by taking the dark light with colors.
Also, due to the handling of the tails in accordance with the beautiful body
shapes, the Sigiri paintings look like painted figures from a distance. Thin fingers, slender,
muscular cheeks, round breasts, lips, and long, thin eyes have been carefully
decorated in accordance with literary fiction.
Sigiri paintings are
important in the study of Lakdi's secular art. At present, we find as few as 22
paintings in Sigiri. According to a Sigiri inscription written in the 8th
century AD, there are 502 paintings of golden lions. Mainly, the Sigiri
paintings are drawn on the western rock and in
addition paintings have been found in Deraniyagala Cave, Watura Bakkigala Cave,
Naipena Cave (Parumaka Cave). The upper body of the Sukumala Lalanana, slightly
smaller than human size, has been used by Sigiri artists as the subject of
their paintings, and the female figures have been drawn emerging from the
clouds. Sigiri paintings have been created as couples and individuals who are
seen accompanied by a golden
liana climbing a ladder and a blue liana wearing a bra. Also, sigiri paintings
are created for artistic aesthetic purposes.
The lower part of the
female figure is covered with clouds from the hips as if they are emerging from
the clouds. These clouds are golden in color. It is special that these women
emerging from the red clouds at the time of sunset have nothing but the empty
sky in the background. The connection between these pictures and the evening is
also mentioned in one of the Kurutu songs. As the sun sets, the shrinking lotus
and lotus flowers confirm that it is
evening. Among Sigiri women, there are Nilvanuas as well as Ranvanu. Mr.
Paranavithana mentions Ranvanu as Vijjulatavas and Nilvanu as Megha kumariyan.
In the evening, the dances performed by the Apsaras are presented in sigiri paintings. Some women bloom
flowers. Some others collect the flowers in the vases. There are also women who
throw the opened flowers on the ground. Other women look at the flowers. Musical
instruments have been used for this performance. That is mentioned in the
inscriptions, that is, a person holding a veena in her hand and an old woman on
the right side of the painting is weaving an instrument like talampata.
These sigiri paintings show the connection
of the woman with the soft tenderness, beauty and fragrance of the flowers, and
the way she performs a work on the flowers with her hands according to the
music.
Technical principles used
Six painting principles
were used in ancient times. That is, size, shape, form, composition, color and
analogies. Sigiri paintings have been created in accordance with these
principles. According to the way in which Sigiri women's plump breasts, thin,
blue eyes, elongated faces, copper lips, etc. have been praised, it appears
that these babies are young women. The anatomical significance of the female body has also been taken into consideration in Sigiri painting. The folds in the stomach when the body bends are very clearly shown. Such images have helped to protect the reality of these paintings. Posture
All the female figures in the present
balance show standing postures.
Quantities
Although only the upper body is visible in
Sigiri paintings, it is impossible to tell the dimensions drawn, but the
Ashtala method has been followed.
Bhav
If the spirit is expressed in a painting or
a sculpture, it looks alive. Sigiri is one of the ninety-seventh of the
spirits. That is why the writers of Sigiri kurut songs were enthralled by the
spirits of the Apsaras and wrote their thoughts.
Lavanyajona
Beautification means adding
beauty to an image. Physical beauty is enhanced by the appropriate use of appropriate colors. There
should be light where light is needed and darkness where darkness is needed.
You can clearly see the beauty of Sigiri paintings. It has made the beauty of
women stand out.
Pigmentation
That is, it is the method of handling the
telitudes mixed with dyes in painting. In sigiri painting, the template is
drawn with Gurupata dye and then completed with appropriate dyes. Also, these
paintings are drawn by moving the telitudes in accordance with the elegance of
the female body. Sigiri paintings are created on a dry plaster board. Belongs
to the category of "tempera" due to making.
Very recently, after the
Sigiri paintings were destroyed by a person's paint stroke, the paintings were
restored by the Italian Dr. Luciano Meranzi.
Thank you very much for reading my article
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