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Title
Octagonal stone column
Creator
de Silva, Preethi
Publication Information
Claremont Colleges Library
Contributing Institution
Claremont Colleges Library
Collection
Ancient Cultural Sites and Royal Residences
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Description
The purpose of this octagonal stone column has not yet been fully clarified. There are several theories pertaining to its significance. In its broken state it reaches a height of about 20 feet, 4 inches. The column is said to have been erected by King Devānampiya Tissa to indicate the place where the future Ruvanveliseya would be built. A similar pillar is found at Kirinda. It has also been suggested that it is a later development of a "sila yupa," a sacrificial stone pillar used in rituals based on Hinduism. The protective roof and pillars are of modern construction.
Type
image
Format
image/jp2
Identifier
acs00353.jpg
http://ccdl.claremont.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15831coll15/id/436
Subject
Columns
Place
Mahāvihāra (The "great" monastery): Ruvanvälisǟya Dāgäbe (Mahāthūpa)
Anurādhapura
Sri Lanka
Relation
Ancient Buddhist Sites and Royal Residences in Sri Lanka - https://ccdl.claremont.edu/digital/collection/p15831coll15

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