THE WORLD ATLAS

Realm · approximate borders · 0–100

Nelcynda coast under the Pandyas

Both 1st-century Roman sources put the pepper port of Nelcynda under the Pandyas, across the Ghats from Madurai. Where exactly Nelcynda was is disputed.

See Nelcynda coast under the Pandyas on the map in 0

On the map
0–100
Capital
ruled from Madurai
Ports
Nelcynda (Niranam area?), Bacare (Becare)
Attested in
Periplus 54 ('Nelcynda ... of another kingdom, the Pandian'); Pliny NH 6.26 (Becare, of the Neacyndi, king Pandion at Madura)

Rulers named in the sources

Tamilakam in the Sangam age

Sangam poetry (the Purananuru, Akananuru, Ten Idylls and Patirruppattu) describes a Tamil country running from the Venkatam hills to Cape Kumari. It was shared by three 'crowned kings' and a ring of Velir chiefs in the hills between them. The Cholas held the Kaveri delta, the Pandyas the Vaigai and Tamirabarani basins, and the Cheras the Malabar coast and later Kongu. Ashoka's edicts, the Hathigumpha inscription, the Periplus, Pliny, Ptolemy, Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and digs at Keezhadi, Kodumanal, Arikamedu and Pattanam confirm the kingdoms, capitals and ports. No source draws a frontier, though. The changes over time follow Nilakanta Sastri's dating, which puts most named kings in c. 100–250 CE. Other scholars place them a century or more earlier.

Sources