Sigiriya Citadel (477–495 CE)
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A Sigiriya Citadel (477–495 CE) is a citadel that includes a Sigiriya building complex (atop a Sigariya Pluton).
- Context:
- It can have been established by Kashyapa I of Anuradhapura.
- It can have been fortified due to fears of retaliation and rebellion after a Throne Usurpation.
- It can symbolize the tension and conflict within the royal lineage during the reign of Kashyapa I of Anuradhapura.
- It can represent a significant period in Sri Lankan History marked by political intrigue, familial betrayal, and architectural innovation.
- ...
- Example(s):
- Counter-Example(s):
- Sigiriya Buddhist Sanctuary.
- Masada Citadel (~37 BCE to 74 CE): An ancient fortress in Israel's Judean Desert on an isolated rock plateau.
- Mont Saint-Michel (~8th to 16th centuries CE): A fortified island commune in Normandy, France.
- Edinburgh Castle (~12th century to present): A historic fortress in Scotland located on an extinct volcanic plug.
- Rocca Calascio (~10th to 17th centuries CE): A mountaintop fortress in Italy's Abruzzo region.
- Himeji Castle, Japan (~1609 CE) fortified to serve as a stronghold during a period of potential rebellion and conflict in feudal Japan.
- The Tower of London (~1078 CE).
- See: World Heritage Site, Central Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Kashyapa I of Anuradhapura, Frescoes.
References
2023
- (GPT-4, 2023) ⇒ GPT-4. (2023). “The Historical Context and Significance of the Sigiriya Citadel (477–495 CE)."
- It is a symbol of historical tension within the royal lineage of Sri Lanka, primarily arising from struggles for power and issues of legitimacy.
- Its historical context is marked by dramatic events involving King Kashyapa I, his father King Dhatusena, and his half-brother Moggallana.
- It's the site of a familial conflict that led to Kashyapa overthrowing his father, King Dhatusena.
- Its fortification by Kashyapa, driven by fear of retaliation from his half-brother Moggallana, represents a complex narrative of power, betrayal, and architectural grandeur.
2023
- (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigiriya Retrieved:2023-12-29.
- Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock , , pronounced see-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Cūḷavaṃsa, this area was a large forest, then after storms and landslides it became a hill and was selected by King Kashyapa (AD 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure; Siṃhagiri, the Lion Rock. The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.