Women in Sri Lankan Sculpture and Painting

Pairs of Cobra-guardians.

Cobras in art

Stone--bas-reliefs--Government Agent’s Residency--Kurunegala (Sri Lanka)

Two pairs of naga-nagini couples (male and female cobras in human form) are the joint guardians at the bottom of the door jambs at the entrance to a ruined building in the premises of the Government Agent’s Residency at Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. The naga and nagini are of almost equal height indicating an improved status for the female in this stone sculpture, probably dating from the 14th century.

Sirima Kiribamune

Government Agent’s Residency, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

14th 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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