Muziris

Muziris is also a genus of jumping spiders.

Muziris is the ancient port city of Malabar (Kerala), the south western state of India known as 'Vanchi' to locals^[1]. It was famous as a major port for trade and commerce for more than 2,500 years. Muziris became of interest to classical authors because of the Romans' interest in trading, and their desire to have contact with regions beyond the reach of easy conquest and they set up trading routes with these places. Merchants from a number of cultures are believed to have operated in the port, and there are numerous Indian finds from the time as well as Roman ones.

There has always been a lot of confusion about the exact location of the port, as also about other aspects of it. For long it was considered to be Kodungalloor. However, in 1983, a large hoard of Roman coins was found at a site around six miles from a place called Pattanam, some distance away from Kodungalloor. Excavations carried out from 2004 to 2009 at Pattanam has revealed evidence that may point out the exact position of Muziris.^[1][2][3][4]

The recent archaeological work done in the area has revealed fragments of imported Roman amphora, mainly used for transporting wine and olive oil, Yemeni and West Asian pottery, besides Indian roulette ware (which is also common on the East Coast of India, and also found in Berenice in Egypt).^[1][2][3][4] This suggests that Muziris was a port of great international fame and that South India was involved in active trade with several civilizations of West Asia, the Near East and Europe with the port as a means to do so.

While there is a consensus on that both the port and the city ceased to exist around the middle of the 13th century CE, possibly following an earthquake (or the great flood of 1341 recorded in history, which caused the change of course of Periyar river), there does not seem to be clear evidence as to when the port might have first come into being. Presently, researchers seem to be agreed on that the port was already a bustling center of trade by 500 BCE, and there is some evidence that suggests that Muziris was a city, even if not certainly a port as well, from before 1500 BCE.^[5][6][7][8] It is worth noting that Muziris is also referred to as Murachipattanam in Valmiki's Ramayana as well as Vyasa's Mahabharata, as Muchiri in the so-called Tamil Sangam's literature, and as Muzirikode in the Jewish Copper Plate of Bhaskara Ravi Varma (around 1000 AD).^[9][10] Among foreign references, Muziris also finds mention in the First Century Natural History of Pliny the Elder, the Second Century Geographia of Ptolemy, the Second Century Muziris Papyrus (p. Vindob G480822), and the Fourth Century Tabula Peutingeriana.

A few traditional scholars also identify Muziris with the town of Musiri, located upstream on the Kaveri river, near Karur, the ancient capital city of the Cheras, in present-day Tamil Nadu state.^{[citation needed]} According to the the first century Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, the distance between Musiris and the sea was possibly some 120 stadia (31 km).^[11]

Tabula Peutingeriana (section) — Tabula Peutingeriana clearly shows Muziris (Musiri) to be after Taprobane (Tambapanni/Tamraparni/Sri Lanka) on the East Coast, on the side of the (Ganges), along a river (Kaveri) after Paleris (Palar), near the township of Coriara (Karuvur/Karur) and up the river from Pattinam (Kaveripattinam/Poompuhar)

Project Muziris Heritage

The project was launched by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Govt of Kerala. It aims at retrieving the historical heritage of the Kodungallur-Paravur region and plans a combination of heritage management initiatives in its restoration, conservation and access to the public. KCHR, identified as the nodal agency for Muziris Heritage Project provides academic guidance and undertakes archaeological / historical research in the region. KCHR Chairman Dr. K. N. Panikkar submitted a concept note on Muziris Heritage Project pointing out the possibilities and potential of the proposal.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4970452.stm
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/03/23/stories/2004032303340500.htm
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/03/28/stories/2004032800050200.htm
4. ^ ^{a b} http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/01/stories/2007040106021000.htm
5. ^ http://www.samachaar.in/Delhi/Trade_links_of_Kerala_city_date_back_to_500_BC_19220/
6. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010956451300.htm
7. ^ http://www.orientalthane.com/archaeology/news_2008_01_30_4.htm
8. ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?issueid=&id=3689&option=com_content&task=view&sectionid=21
9. ^ http://www.commodityonline.com/ndtv/commodities/commoditynewsdetails.php?cat=11&id=5594
10. ^ http://www.simaqianstudio.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3773
11. ^ Casson (1989), p. 85.

External links

• Dr. Nagaswamy R., 1995, Roman Karur [1]
• Raghava Aiyangar, R.,1932, Vanci Managar, Madras.
• [2]