Architect's Plummet

Sri Lanka, Pollonnaruva

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 242

This plummet, used to determine perpendicular lines, is a rare example of a surveying tool associated with temple building in Sri Lanka. Its elaborate ornamentation attests to the importance attached to temple building, and the protective presence of a mythological kirrtimuhka face underscores the sacred nature of the activity.

Architect's Plummet, Copper alloy, iron armature, Sri Lanka, Pollonnaruva

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Architect's Plummet, Copper alloy, iron armature, Sri Lanka, Pollonnaruva
Architect's Plummet, Copper alloy, iron armature, Sri Lanka, Pollonnaruva

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