Tamil trader’s name Cikai Korran found inside 2,000-year-old Egyptian Pharaohs’ tombs: Study

Researchers, studying ancient Egyptian burial sites, have identified Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions inside royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. One of them carried a clear line – “Cikai Korran vara kanta” – which translates to “Cikai Korran came and saw.”The discovery places a named Tamil trader inside one of Egypt’s most protected royal complexes around 2,000 years ago – deep in the tomb area used for Pharaohs, including Ramesses VI, reported PTI.

Researchers identify 30 Indian inscriptions across Egyptian burial sites
The findings were presented by Professor Ingo Strauch of the University of Lausanne during the International Conference on Tamil Epigraphy held on February 11. He worked with Professor Charlotte Schmid of the French School of Asian Studies in Paris.Together, they documented about 30 inscriptions across six tombs. Twenty of those were in Tamil-Brahmi script. Others appeared in Prakrit and related early Indian writing systems, the report added.

Tamil trader’s name, ‘Cikai Korran’, appeared eight times, across different tomb locations.

In one case, the inscription read like a personal record of presence – “came and saw.” According to Professor Schmid, this format mirrors Greek graffiti left by visitors in the same complex.

A TOI report quoting her states that the Tamil trader may have seen those inscriptions and followed the same style.

“The name ‘Korran’ is linked with the king or leader,” Schmid noted, pointing to its meaning in early Tamil usage.

Another inscription found in the tomb area reads “Kopan varata kantan,” also translating to “Kopan came and saw.” Tomb 8 contained the name Catan – which researchers say is a common South Indian name found in early Tamil-Brahmi records.

Study confirms Tamil traders travelled beyond Egypt’s port cities

Tamil Nadu alone accounts for roughly 30,000 recorded inscriptions, spanning back to the 6th century BCE. Earlier evidence of Tamil presence in Egypt came mostly from coastal trade centres like Berenike, a Red Sea port. This discovery changes that understanding.

“Through other inscriptions discovered in ancient port cities, we had information about traders from Tamil Nadu visiting Egypt,” Strauch said.

But he added that these tomb inscriptions show traders did more than unload goods and leave, the report added.

The findings were presented at a conference organised by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, inaugurated by Minister Thangam Thennarasu. He noted that inscriptions provide a reliable historical timeline, often free from later alterations seen in literary texts.