Weiner Mihályné szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 6. (Budapest, 1963)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM - MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Rásonyi, Lydia: A Demon Mask from Ceylon

Fig. 1. Ceylon. Purnaka Yaka mask. 18th century mythological aborigines of Ceylon, snake princes, snake devils and their arch-enemies, the Naga-demons, belong to this group. d) Mythical animals which infiltrated to the kolam natanava from ancient rites. e) Finally the group of demons, whose appearance marks the very climax of the kolam-nlsLj. At this phase the audience becomes ecstatic. The act is introduced by a giant, identical to Godimbara, according to Pertold,

8 a young hero of legends. He is followed by Purnaka Y aha, the demon most interesting for us, who will be dealt with in more detail below. The other group of masked plays existing in Ceylon is that of ritual dance ceremonies. Their functions allow a distinction of three important rites: yakun-netima, gara-yakuma and sanni-yakuma.