Sigiriya mirror wall graffiti: ancient Sinhala poetry and script evolution?
3 Answers from travellers
The Mirror Wall at Sigiriya is a masonry brick wall coated in highly polished white lime plaster that once reflected the king’s palace. Between the 8th and 10th centuries, travelers, poets, and pilgrims visiting the rock fortress inscribed over 700 verses directly onto the plaster using sharp stylus points. Deciphered by epigraphists, these ancient graffiti represent some of the earliest surviving examples of classical Sinhala poetry. They record spontaneous emotional reactions, describing the beauty of the celestial maiden (Sigiriya fresco) paintings, the majesty of the rock citadel, and heartbreak.
Touching or leaning against the fragile polished Mirror Wall surface is strictly prohibited to protect ancient lime plaster from skin oils and abrasion.
Epigraphical study of these verses provides invaluable linguistic data on the chronological evolution of Sinhala grammar, phonetics, and script characters.
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