A groundbreaking discovery may reshape our understanding of ancient maritime trade routes. Researchers have identified 2,000-year-old Tamil-Brahmi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit inscriptions within the high-security royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt — a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Pharaonic burials.
The findings offer compelling new evidence of maritime trade connections between ancient Tamilakam (present-day Tamil Nadu and surrounding regions) and Egypt, dating back nearly two millennia. The inscriptions are believed to belong to the period between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE — a time corresponding to the height of Indo-Roman trade.
According to reports, 30 inscriptions in Tamil-Brahmi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit were identified across six tombs in the Theban Necropolis. The site, located within ancient Thebes, is globally known for housing royal tombs including that of Tutankhamun.
The study was conducted during 2024 and 2025 by Professor Charlotte Schmid of the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) and Professor Ingo Strauch of the University of Lausanne. The team documented inscriptions across multiple tombs, building upon the early 20th-century work of French scholar Jule Baillet, who surveyed the Valley of the Kings in 1926 and catalogued more than 2,000 Greek graffiti marks.
Commenting on the discovery, author and historian TS Krishnan noted that Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found in Egypt are “not entirely unexpected.” He pointed to well-established maritime trade networks between ancient Tamilakam and the Mediterranean world, particularly Egypt, during the Sangam age.
Krishnan also referenced earlier discoveries, including a broken pottery shard bearing Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found in Egypt, read as “Paanai Uri,” interpreted as “a pot hung by rope” or “suspended vessel.” The artefact is generally dated to around the 1st century CE.
The presence of Indian inscriptions inside royal Egyptian tomb complexes suggests that Indian merchants may have travelled deep into Egyptian territory, leaving behind tangible traces of cross-cultural contact.
If further authenticated and studied, this discovery could significantly expand the historical narrative of Indo-Egyptian relations and reinforce evidence of India’s extensive maritime networks during antiquity.
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