Relevance: GS I (Art & Culture – Ancient History) | Source: The Hindu / Indian Express
1. The Discovery: Indians in the Valley of the Kings
Researchers from the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) have identified nearly 30 inscriptions written in Tamil Brahmi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit inside the tombs at the Valley of the Kings (Theban Necropolis) in Egypt.
- Nature of Find: These are not formal edicts but graffiti carved by ancient Indian visitors on the walls of corridors and tombs.
- Timeline: The inscriptions date back to the 1st to 3rd Century CE, coinciding with the peak of Indo-Roman trade.
- Significance: While previous inscriptions were found at Egyptian ports (Berenike, Quseir), finding them inland at a royal burial site suggests Indians were traveling deep into Egypt, possibly as wealthy tourists or merchants admiring the monuments.
2. Key Details & Historical Context
- The Script: One specific Tamil Brahmi inscription reads “Cikai Korran”, likely the name of an individual.
- Diversity: The visitors hailed from the north-western, western, and southern regions of India, with the majority being from the Tamilagam region.
- Trade Connection: This period aligns with the discovery of Monsoon winds (Hippalus), which facilitated direct sailing across the Arabian Sea between Indian ports (Muziris, Arikamedu) and Roman/Egyptian ports (Berenike, Myos Hormos).
3. Conceptual Clarity: Tamil Brahmi
- What is it? A variant of the Brahmi script used to write the Tamil language during the Sangam Age (roughly 3rd Century BCE to 3rd Century CE).
- Where is it usually found? In Tamil Nadu, it is mostly found in Jain caves (associated with monks) or on pottery shards (associated with traders/common people).
UPSC Value Box
| Concept / Term | Relevance for Prelims |
| Valley of the Kings | A famous archaeological site in Egypt containing tombs of Pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom (16th–11th century BCE). Indians visited this site centuries later (1st Century CE) as travelers. |
| Pattinappalai | A Sangam literature text that mentions Yavanas (Greeks/Romans) visiting ancient Tamil ports. This discovery provides archaeological counter-evidence of Tamils visiting Yavana lands. |
| Berenike | An ancient Egyptian seaport on the Red Sea coast. Previous excavations here have yielded black pepper (from Kerala) and other Indian artifacts, confirming it as a key node in the Spice Route. |
Q. With reference to the ancient history of India, the term “Tamil Brahmi” refers to:
- A script used to write the Tamil language during the Sangam Age.
- A distinct language spoken by the traders of the Coromandel coast.
- A style of temple architecture prevalent in the Kaveri delta.
- A guild of merchants trading with the Roman Empire.
Correct Answer: (1)
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