mask (ansiktsmask)

1916.9.226

Name and identification of character
A soldier/warrior, hevaya (or hevarala or heva kolam) (Sin.).

Context
This character appears with a group of soldiers in the first stage of the Kolam performance, in the dance of the warriors, heva kolam (Sin.). The soldiers enter the place of performance in order to uphold law and order. Their duty is to maintain discipline prior to the arrival of the royal party (vide Preface).

Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).

Iconography
A mask demonstrating the vicious nature of the warrior by means of sculptural details common to all the masks of this genre; the deflected open mouth, the irregularly carved teeth with gaps in between, and the swellings on the cheeks. The sword cuts on the forehead and chin, and the leeches stuck on the temples are common and popular identification marks of a warrior, and abundantly displayed in this mask.

2000 06 03
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka