Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013 

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்}

Fisherman of  Tamilagam

Damirica or Limyrike is Tamilagam  "Tamil country". The Pandyas, a classical Dravidian Tamil kingdom,  were known for the pearl fishery as early as the 1st century BC. Their seaport Tuticorin was known for deep sea pearl fishing. The Paravas, a Tamil caste centred in Tuticorin. developed a rich community because of their pearl trade, navigation knowledge and fisheries. The port was a key to the trade between southern India and the Phoenicians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Roman Empire. The important known commodities exported from this ports were spices (such as black pepper and malabathron), semi-precious stones (such as beryl), pearls, diamonds, sapphires, ivory, Chinese silk, Gangetic spikenard and tortoise shells. The Romans brought money (in gold coins), peridots, thin clothing, figured linens, multicoloured textiles, sulfide of antimony, copper, tin, lead, coral, raw glass, wine, realgar and orpiment

'''Besides this there are ex-ported great quantities of fine pearls, ivory, silk cloth, spikenard from the Ganges, malabathrum from the places in the interior, transparent stones of all kinds, diamonds and sapphires, and tortoise-shell; that from Chryse Island, and that taken among the islands along the coast of Damirica (Limyrike). They make the voyage to this place in a favorable season who set out from Egypt about the month of July, that is Epiphi''. —The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, 56  Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013 

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013

Damirica or Limyrike  {தமிழகம்} / photography © Abul Kalam Azad / 20''x 20'' pigment print  2013