Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c11.s1.8

c11.s1.8

Heraldry was introduced into Europe by the Crusaders. When at a later period, the European penetrated further East, he brought back with him the old devices to their early home. An especially striking instance was the return of the lion of the Dutch, which has influenced in some cases, the representation of the Sinhalese lion itself, as in the corners of the ‘Sun and Moon’ Flag figured by Bell in his ‘Report on the Kēgalla District.’ I possess also a jaggery-mould upon which an evidently Dutch lion rampant with sword in paw is carved in sunk relief. The influence of the Dutch lion upon the Sinhalese was facilitated by its presence on the small Dutch copper coins which were soon in common use throughout Ceylon.