Two cobra-guardians carrying pots of plenty.
Stone--Bas-reliefs--Manankattiya tank--Anuradhapura district--Sri Lanka
This well preserved example of female companions or naginis (female cobras) in tank sculpture can be seen at a sluice on the Manankattiya tank, east of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The details of dress and ornament can be clearly seen in this carving on hard stone. A date in the middle Anuradhapura period (ca. 6th-7th century A.D.) has been suggested by scholars.
Manankattiya tank, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Technical Assistant: Jayasundare, Subhashini
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