The Mirror Wall at Sigiriya was once polished so highly that the king could see himself. What is written on it?

Ancient graffiti and poems by visitors

The laws of King Kashyapa's court

Buddhist scriptures in the Pali language

The famous Sigiriya frescoes show what?

Battle scenes from the war with his brother

What is remarkable about Sigiriya's ancient water gardens?

Some fountains still work in the rainy season

They are still lit every night with oil lamps

They are cut entirely into white marble

What happened to Sigiriya after Kashyapa's death?

It was destroyed by an earthquake

Sigiriya Quiz: Lion Rock, Frescoes and Gardens of Sri Lanka

This Sigiriya quiz explores Sri Lanka's famous Lion Rock, with questions on King Kashyapa and his 5th-century palace, the giant lion paws of the Lion Staircase, the Mirror Wall and its ancient graffiti, the Sigiriya frescoes, the water gardens, Pidurangala Rock, the later monastery and the nearby Dambulla Cave Temple. Ten questions.

Start Sigiriya Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Kings
Which 5th-century king built his palace on top of Sigiriya?
Names
What does the name Sigiriya mean?
Staircase
What remains of the great lion at the Lion Staircase today?
Walls
The Mirror Wall at Sigiriya was once polished so highly that the king could see himself. What is written on it?
Art
The famous Sigiriya frescoes show what?
Gardens
What is remarkable about Sigiriya's ancient water gardens?
Views
Which nearby rock is a popular hike for sunrise views of Sigiriya?
History
What happened to Sigiriya after Kashyapa's death?
Temples
Which cave temple complex near Sigiriya is famous for painted ceilings and over 150 Buddha statues?
Region
Sigiriya is part of which famous area of ancient sites in central Sri Lanka?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which 5th-century king built his palace on top of Sigiriya?
Answer: King Kashyapa
Kashyapa seized the throne from his father, King Dhatusena. Fearing revenge from his brother, he moved his capital to the safety of the rock.
Q2: What does the name Sigiriya mean?
Answer: Lion Rock
Visitors once entered the final staircase through the mouth of a giant brick lion. The name comes from the Sinhala words for lion and rock.
Q3: What remains of the great lion at the Lion Staircase today?
Answer: Its giant paws
The head and body have crumbled away, but the huge paws with carved claws still frame the stairs. They were uncovered by archaeologists in 1898.
Q4: The Mirror Wall at Sigiriya was once polished so highly that the king could see himself. What is written on it?
Answer: Ancient graffiti and poems by visitors
Visitors from the 8th to the 10th centuries wrote hundreds of verses praising the frescoes. They are some of the oldest examples of Sinhala writing.
Q5: The famous Sigiriya frescoes show what?
Answer: Elegant women holding flowers
Only about 20 of the paintings survive, protected in a sheltered pocket of the rock. The women may be royal ladies or celestial maidens.
Q6: What is remarkable about Sigiriya's ancient water gardens?
Answer: Some fountains still work in the rainy season
The gardens use underground channels and the pressure of water to power their fountains. They are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world.
Q7: Which nearby rock is a popular hike for sunrise views of Sigiriya?
Answer: Pidurangala Rock
The climb takes around an hour and ends with a scramble over boulders. An ancient Buddhist temple and a large reclining Buddha sit on its slopes.
Q8: What happened to Sigiriya after Kashyapa's death?
Answer: It became a Buddhist monastery
Kashyapa's brother Moggallana defeated him in battle and returned the capital to Anuradhapura. Monks used the site until about the 14th century.
Q9: Which cave temple complex near Sigiriya is famous for painted ceilings and over 150 Buddha statues?
Answer: The Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla's five caves have been used for worship for more than 2,000 years. Like Sigiriya, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Q10: Sigiriya is part of which famous area of ancient sites in central Sri Lanka?
Answer: The Cultural Triangle
The triangle links the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. Sigiriya was listed by UNESCO in 1982.

Sigiriya Quiz – Sri Lanka's Lion Rock

Sigiriya, the Lion Rock, is a giant column of rock rising about 180 meters above the jungle in central Sri Lanka. On its flat summit are the ruins of a royal palace built in the 5th century, and at its base lie gardens, moats and walls. It is one of the most impressive ancient sites in Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to Sri Lanka's chronicles, Sigiriya was built by King Kashyapa, who took the throne from his father, King Dhatusena. Afraid of his brother Moggallana, Kashyapa turned the rock into a fortress-palace. Moggallana eventually defeated him, and Sigiriya became a Buddhist monastery for centuries before it was abandoned.

The climb to the top is unforgettable. Visitors pass through water gardens with fountains and pools, then climb stairs past boulder gardens. Halfway up, a spiral staircase leads to the Sigiriya frescoes, paintings of graceful women that have survived for over 1,500 years. Beyond them, the Mirror Wall carries ancient graffiti written by early visitors.

Near the summit, the path reaches the Lion Staircase, where two enormous paws are all that remain of a brick lion. The summit holds foundations of palace buildings, a large water tank and amazing views. Nearby, Pidurangala Rock offers a close look at Sigiriya, especially at sunrise.

Sigiriya is part of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle with Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and the Dambulla Cave Temple. Visitors often combine it with elephant safaris in nearby national parks.

The best time to climb is early in the morning, before the midday heat and the tour buses arrive. Visitors should bring water and wear good shoes, and those who fear heights should know that some metal stairways hang over steep drops.

This quiz covers the history, art, gardens and legends of Sigiriya.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for history fans, travelers and art lovers.

Who built Sigiriya and why
What the name Sigiriya means
The Lion Staircase and the Mirror Wall
The Sigiriya frescoes and water gardens
Pidurangala Rock and the Dambulla Cave Temple
Sigiriya's place in the Cultural Triangle

Quick Facts About Sigiriya

The climb to the summit has about 1,200 steps.
Sigiriya's summit covers about 1.6 hectares.
Hornets sometimes nest on the rock, so guards may close paths.
A museum near the entrance explains the site's history.
Some researchers think Sigiriya was a monastery before Kashyapa.
The rock is the hardened magma plug of an ancient volcano.