The rape of Sita

26 March - 23 June 2021

The Ramayana, a sacred Hindu text, tells of the demon Ravana’s rape of Sita, the wife of the god Rama. In the Balinese version of this epic, Ravana mounted a hybrid creature, possessing feline, bird and human features, called Wilmana.


The monkey god Hanuman helped Rama to search for his wife and found her in the city of Lanka. He was caught by Ravana, whose guards set fire to Hanuman's tail, who in turn set the fire to the city as he fled. Rama finally defeated Ravana in the great battle of Lanka and was able to meet Sita again.

These sculptures in the round, made from polychrome wood or stone, were usually part of the architectural decoration of temples and royal palaces in Bali, probably with a protective function. 

 

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Hanuman

Hanuman

c 1940 Would you like to see it?
Ravana, riding Wilmana, raping Sita

Ravana, riding Wilmana, raping Sita

c 1935 Would you like to see it?

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