Female Images of Sigiriya: Iconography and Interpretation

This article explores the iconography and artistic features of the monumental paintings of Sigiriya, a Sri Lankan architectural and landscape monument, meaning “lion rock” in Sinhalese. On the flat summit of a rock plateau, rising almost 200 meters above the surrounding plain in the very center of the island, in the 5th century AD, King Kashyapa built a large palace and park complex, the ruins of which survive to this day. Sigiriya became a unique monument, a synthesis of the architectural knowledge and technical achievements of ancient Sri Lanka, demonstrating a high level of mastery in the visual arts. Only a fragment of the monumental painting that existed here in ancient times has survived to this day — 22 female figures painted on the rock face. Despite years of research, a number of questions regarding the purpose of creating the large-scale architectural and landscape complex of Sigiriya and the function of its individual elements, including the unique paintings, remain unclear and cause controversy within scholarly circles.

When studying the paintings of Sigiriya, a holistic approach is essential — their relationship to other artistic elements of the architectural complex, its layout, functionality, and overall conceptual design. Various interpretations of the female images of Sigiriya are examined, as well as iconographic and stylistic parallels. The author offers her own interpretation of the pictorial composition and its function within the spatial design of the complex.

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