The Ancient ports of India- History Updated......

Important historic valued points in the Article by S. Muthiah, “The ancient ports of India”, The Hindu dated 14th April 2017

• The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea details proposed by KRA Narasiah, former naval engineer.

 ‘The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’ [Greek] translation ‘The Guide to the Red Sea’ [English] 

1.      The book “The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’” contains an anonymous Greek merchant’s tale of his voyage from the Greek port of Piraeus to the ports of the Red Sea, which is the Red Sea itself and all seas beyond it to the mouth of the Ganges. It was a journey by sea to Alexandria, by land to Heliopolis (Cairo), by boat 300 miles up the Nile and then by camel to the ports of Myos Hormos or the much bigger Berenike, then onwards. Written in 60 AD, it is considered the last word on the ports of India of that period.

2.      Translation of Ports :

·         Barygaza — Bharuch;

·         Syrastrene — Saurashtra;

·         Suppara — Soppara;

·         Muziris — Pattanam;

·         Colchi — Korkai;

·         Camera – Puhar (Poompuhar);

·         Poduca — Puducherry;

·         Sopatama — Marakkanam;

·         Maisolia — Masulipatnam;

·         Dasarna — Orissa.

3.      The traders from Rome and Greece monopolised trade with the West coast of India, especially in the Gujarat region with its ports of Bharuch and others in Saurashtra, and Musiris (Pattanam near Cranganore) in Kerala, considered part of Damarica (Tamizhagam). The western trade focused on horses and wine one way; pepper, textiles and ivory the other.

4.       Indian traders did not sail westwards. It was only those from the East coast who went overseas, sailing from the Coromandel and Kalinga coasts.

5.      Mamallapuram was not a port as usually claimed; Marakkanam was the port. It’s quite possible that Mamallapuram was not a port in the 1AD, but natural geographies change over the years and Mamallapuram could well have become or developed as a harbour by the 6th Century; after all, Musiris gave way to Cochin centuries later. But then, much of history is debatable in this fashion.

6.      History of Maraimalaiadigal Bridge in Saidapet that was built anew and opened in 1966.This Bridge replaced the Marmalong (Mambalam) Bridge, built through the munificence of Armenian merchant Coja Petrus Uscan in 1726, replacing the causeway that was there, to make access to Little Mount and St Thomas’ Mount easier.

7.      Mr. DH Rao, A Numismatics expert claims the pictures of the obverse and reverse sides of a one anna coin dating to 1839 was not a coin; it’s a token, usually issued by temples. The East India Company, to please the Hindus, minted these tokens usually with Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. They are known as Ramtanakas. Many a jeweller too has issued such tokens — especially in North India.” They are bought from the temples to be kept as personal talismans or in pooja rooms.