ON EARTH
OR IN HEAVEN?
GRAFFITI left by medieval travelers to Sigiri-
ya are responses to the site’s extraordinary
rock paintings depicting beautiful women
dancing and bearing offerings. One notes:
“The caress of the gentle breeze was deli-
cate upon their bodies, illuminated by the
light of the moon’s rays.” Historians have
differed as to the identity of the women rep-
resented high up on the cliff wall. Their
solid and sensual forms have led some
writers to believe they are depictions of
women from Kashyapa’s
harem. Another theo-
ry believes them to be
depictions of apsaras,
singers and dancers in
Indian mythology who in-
habit heaven.
DEA/SCALA, FLORENCEJOSÉ^ RAGA/AGEFOTOSTOCKPHILIPPE MICHEL/AGE FOTOSTOCKTHE WOMEN depicted in the Sigiriya frescoes are only
painted from the hips up, with the lower parts of
their bodies wrapped by clouds. This has led some
historians to suggest that they represent divine
rather than earthly beings.DISCOVERIES