4 – Sigiriya Complex
This remarkable structure is located in Sri Lanka’s Central Province and is also known as the Lion’s Rock. The name ‘Sigiriya’ refers to a historical and archaeologically significant area of genuine beauty capped off by the incredible fortress that is almost 660 feet high. In the modern era, it is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site having received the designation in 1982.
The surrounding area was inhabited for thousands of years before King Kashyapa decided to create a fortress in 477 AD. He did so as protection because he murdered the previous king, Dhutusena. As the illegitimate son of Dhutusena, he had no official claim to the throne. However, he plotted with the leader of the nation’s army to overthrow the monarch, and he also drove the rightful heir, Dhutusena’s son Moggallana, out of the kingdom.
Kashyapa relocated the capital to Sigiriya from Anuradhapura and quickly began work on the fortress. Sigiriya was an obvious choice for the new capital because it gave the king a strategic advantage should any of his enemies attack. Due to its elevated position several hundred meters above sea level, Sigiriya offered a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. The king ordered the creation of a new city, and over the next few years, his architects created a stunning complex.
The structure gets its ‘Lion’s Fortress’ name because of the giant lion that greets visitors as they reach the halfway mark on the journey to the top. It was designed as a gateway to warn enemies and welcome friendly visitors. The Sigiriya complex included five gates and was 1 kilometer long and 3 kilometers wide. There were beautiful gardens within the area and to provide extra security; the king ordered a moat complete with ramparts to be built around the complex.
Kashyapa didn’t get to enjoy his new fortress for very long because Moggallana returned from Southern India with an army and defeated his enemy in 495 AD. Apparently, Kashyapa’s elephant panicked at the sight of invaders and turned aside instead of charging. The king’s troops mistakenly believed it was a signal to retreat, so they fled the battlefield. According to one story, the king committed suicide rather than surrender to his enemies. Moggallana moved the kingdom’s capital back to Anuradhapura.
As a result, the magnificent Sigiriya complex was abandoned, but a Buddhist monastery later occupied the grounds and remained there until the 14th century. During the 17th century, Sigiriya became part of the Kingdom of Kandy, but it was only discovered by Western explorers in 1831 when Major Jonathan Forbes of the British Army found it while riding his horse across the province.
After a low-key archaeological dig in the 1890s, Sigiriya was subject to more intense scrutiny in the early 20th century, but a major excavation did not take place until 1982. At this point, the Sri Lankan government funded the Cultural Triangle Project which focused on the city. Unfortunately, the lion’s head fell off centuries ago, but even today, the Sigiriya complex is one of the most splendid wonders of the ancient world.