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Relevance: GS-I (Ancient History & Culture) | Source: the Indian Express
The News: New underwater digs off the coast of Tamil Nadu have found ancient artifacts belonging to Poompuhar, the legendary lost port city of the Chola Empire. The findings prove this sunken city was once a booming global trade hub closely connected to the Middle East.
1. The Glory of the Lost City
Located where the Cauvery River meets the Bay of Bengal, Poompuhar was the capital of the early Cholas (around 400 BCE).
- A Literary Star: Also known as Kaveripoompattinam, the city is famously celebrated in ancient Sangam literature.
- Smart Urban Planning: It was a highly organized city, divided neatly into coastal living zones, inland residential areas, and bustling day markets.
2. Global Trade & The “Torpedo Jar”
Poompuhar was a crowded global hub where exported goods were officially stamped with the royal Chola tiger emblem.
- World Traders: Ships from Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and Rome anchored here regularly to trade spices and food.
- The Big Find: Divers recently recovered a fragment of a “torpedo jar.” These bullet-shaped ceramic pots were used by ancient Middle Eastern merchants to transport wine and olive oil, proving deep trade links with the Persian Gulf.
3. How Did the City Sink?
- The Disaster: Finding freshwater “ring wells” on the ocean floor proves that the seabed was once dry land. Experts believe a massive tsunami or catastrophic flood swallowed the city between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE.
- The Myth: Ancient legends say the local king forgot to celebrate the rain god’s festival (Indra Vizha). In anger, the patron goddess caused the sea to swallow the entire city.
Practice MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the ancient port city of Poompuhar:
- The city was strategically located at the mouth of the Godavari river.
- The prosperity and urban layout of this port city are extensively detailed in the Sangam epics Silappadikaram and Manimekalai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Hint: Statement 1 is incorrect because Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam) was located at the mouth of the Cauvery river, not the Godavari. Statement 2 is correct, as these texts are primary literary sources for the city’s history.
Hint: Statement 1 is incorrect because Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam) was located at the mouth of the Cauvery river, not the Godavari. Statement 2 is correct, as these texts are primary literary sources for the city’s history.
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