How Tamil, Sanskrit, Prakrit names ended up on walls of Egyptian tombs, Pg17

Key Highlights:

• A study from 2023-2025 by Charlotte Schmid and Ingo Strauch documented nearly 30 inscriptions in Tamil-Brahmi, Sanskrit, and Prakrit in six tombs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings.
• The inscriptions, dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries C.E., include the Tamil name "cikal Korran," inscribed eight times, and the phrase "Kopan came and saw."
• The findings suggest that Indian travelers, including merchants and individuals connected to ruling lineages, ventured inland to Thebes and participated in Mediterranean cultural practices.
• The discovery adds 20 Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions to the existing hundred found in India, raising questions about writing practices in ancient Tamilagam.

Detailed Insights:

• The name "Cikal Korran" reflects the cosmopolitanism of ancient India, combining "sikha" (Sanskrit for tuft or crown) with a Tamil element linked to victory and the goddess Korravai.
• The phrase "Kopan came and saw" mirrors similar Greek declarations, indicating Indian visitors engaged in existing Mediterranean customs of travel and remembrance.
• The 10 inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Gandhari-Kharoshti suggest visitors from northwestern and western India, including an envoy of a Kshaharata king, were also present.
• The location of the inscriptions in the Valley of the Kings, far from the port of Berenike, implies that Indian traders spent considerable time in Egypt, engaging in sightseeing and commemoration.
• The inscriptions provide evidence of literacy, mobility, and a sense of self among ancient Indian merchant communities, challenging the notion that Roman trade with India was not reciprocal.
• The survival of these inscriptions in the dry climate and rock-cut tombs of the Valley of the Kings has preserved them for over 2000 years, offering insights into ancient Indian society and trade networks.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Tamil-Brahmi (Tamili): An ancient script used to write the Tamil language.
• Prakrit: A group of ancient Indo-Aryan languages used in India.
• Kshaharata: A dynasty that ruled parts of Western India in the 1st century C.E.