Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting

Nagini guardstone

Cobras in art

Limestone sculpture--Archaeological Museum, Sigiriya--Sri Lanka

A guardstone with only the nagini (female cobra) is among the exhibits of the Archaeological Museum at Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. It was discovered in the Sigiriya gardens, with a companion nagini guardstone which has since disappeared. This 5th century A.D. limestone sculpture is in a deteriorated state but eye witnesses who have seen the cobra hood contributed to this identification.

Sirima Kiribamune

Archeological Museum, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

ca. 5th century A.D.

Period of study: 1986-1987

Version: 01/12/2012

Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Technical Officer: Wijesinghe, Lalith

Technical Assistant: Jayasundare, Subhashini

Photographer: Madanayake, I.S.

International Center for Ethnic Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo

All rights reserved by International Center for Ethnic Studies, Sri Lanka.

Forms part of Photographic documentation of Women as depicted in early Sri Lankan sculpture and painting / Slide in present collection

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