View from the top of Sigiriya - the Lion Rock - 5th century World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka showing part of the water system.

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Spectacular view from the top of the Sigiriya rock where Kassapa built his fortress palace in the 5th century (c. 477-485) to escape his brother, whom he was fighting for the throne. The terrraces, once gardens, give way to jungle. After Kassapa's defeat, Sigiriya was given back to the Buddhist monks who had lived there originally, but after c,1155 they too seem to have abandoned it.

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Size: 5373px × 3597px
Photo credit: © aslphoto / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: archaeology, buddha, buddhism, caves, ceylon, defence, fifthcentury, fortifications, fortress, heritage, hydraulic, irrigation, jungle, kassapa, monastery, palace, panorama, refuge, resources, site, steps, stonework, system, tank, view, water, wewa, world