In the late 5th century, King Kashyapa of Sri Lanka was afraid. He had every reason to be — he had orchestrated a coup and seized the throne from the rightful heir, his brother. Fearing an attack, Kashyapa moved the capital and his residence to the top of this rock. It was called Sigiriya, or the Lion Rock. Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, is a geological marvel, a massive column of granite that rises nearly 200 meters (660 feet) above the surrounding plains. This rock is basically the hardened magma core of an extinct volcano, which eroded over millions of years, leaving behind the resilient and impos…