Ancient Trade and Cultural Links

Ancient Trade and Cultural Links

Context

Researchers presented groundbreaking findings at the International Conference on Tamil Epigraphy in Chennai, revealing nearly 30 ancient Indian inscriptions found within the rock-cut tombs of Egypt's Valley of the Kings. These discoveries, documented between 2024 and 2025, provide "clinching evidence" of a robust, two-way trade relationship between the Indian subcontinent and the Roman Empire during the 1st to 3rd Century CE.

About the Discovery

Linguistic Finds: The inscriptions were found across six tombs in the Theban Necropolis. Unlike previous finds restricted to coastal ports, these show Indian travelers venturing deep into the Egyptian interior for sightseeing or extended stays.

• Languages: 20 inscriptions are in Tamil-Brahmi (Tamili), while the remaining 10 are in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Gandhari-Kharoṣṭhī.
• Key Name - "Cikai Korran": * This name appears eight times across five different tombs.
  • Cikai: Linked to the Sanskrit Shikha, meaning "tuft" or "crown."
  • Korran: A distinctly Tamil name derived from Korram (victory/slaying). It is linked to the Chera warrior goddess Korravai and the term Korravan (King).
• Other Names: "Kopan" (found in Tomb 1 with the phrase Kopan varata kantan — "Kopan came and saw"), "Catan," and "Kiran."

Strategic Locations:

• Valley of the Kings: Inscribed as "graffiti" on tomb walls, sometimes as high as 4 meters, mimicking the existing practice of Greek and Roman visitors.
• Berenike Port: A vital Red Sea trade hub where longer Sanskrit inscriptions mentioning Roman emperors and representations of Indian deities (like Buddha) have been unearthed.
• Quseir-al-Qadim: Known for the famous "Paanai oRi" (pot in a rope net) Tamil-Brahmi pottery find.

Geography: The Nile River System

Understanding the trade routes requires knowledge of the Nile, which served as the primary transport artery from the Red Sea ports to the Mediterranean.

The Confluence: The Nile is formed by the meeting of two major tributaries at Khartoum (Sudan):

1. White Nile: * Source: Lake Victoria (Uganda/Tanzania/Kenya).
   • Mnemonic: "Winners wear White" (Victoria = Victory = Winners).
2. Blue Nile: * Source: Lake Tana (Ethiopia).
   • Mnemonic: "Losers get taunted 'Tana' and wear Blue" (Blue = Sadness/Defeat).

Significance of the Finds

• Two-Way Trade: Confirms that trade was not just Romans coming to India for pepper, but Indian merchants actively residing in and traveling through Egypt.
• High Literacy: Suggests that ancient Tamil traders were likely multilingual, reading Greek graffiti and recording their own presence in their native scripts.
• Diplomatic Links: One Sanskrit inscription mentions an envoy of a Kshaharata king (Western Satraps), indicating official diplomatic missions between Indian royalty and the Roman administration.

Conclusion

The presence of "Cikai Korran" in the tombs of Pharaohs bridges the gap between Sangam-era India and the Roman-era Nile Valley. These inscriptions transform our understanding of ancient Indians from mere "suppliers of spices" to active participants in the globalized culture of the Roman world.