THE SOCIAL ROLES OF WOMEN AS PORTRAYED IN SIGIRI POETRY

Abstract

The Sigiri poetry collection is considered to be the origin of Sinhala verse literature in Sri Lanka. These sigiri verses were reportedly composed between the 7th to 14th Century BC. Most of the poems among Sigiri poems are written in verse style called 'Gee'. Thus, those poems are named ‘Sigiri Gee’. These poems are said to have been written on the Sigiri Mirror wall known as the "Katapath Pawura" by various travelers who came to visit the ruined Sigiriya from different eras. Among these poets were kings, priests, soldiers, etc., as well as women in particular. There are also 14 female poets, among the Sigiri writers, introducing themselves by a name. Sigiri rock paintings inspired most poems by all these poets. However, some female poets express their moods and independent ideologies. Those poems have revealed the lives of women of that era as well as their unique perceptions and thought processes. Also, information about women in Sigiri society has been revealed by the opinions of other poets. The study therefore aims to explore how the social roles of women in Sigiri society are portrayed in Sigiri poetry. This analysis is based on the sociological concept of social roles. The Sigiri poetry has highlighted the challenging lives of women in Sigiri society, their social roles and their unwavering independence in the face of tradition.