Southern Asia
ஐங்குறுநூறு
The akam, or love poems presented here are from the classical Tamil anthology Aiṅkur̲unūr̲u (ஐங்குறுநூறு – the short 500), compiled in southern India in the early part of the 3rd century C.E. These selections, authored by the poet Kapilar (ca. 140-200), are set in the Kuriñci poetic landscape, featuring the clandestine meeting of lovers against a backdrop of lush, cool mountains.
Works
Selected & translated by A. K. Ramanujan. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011.*
*Physical exhibit features the 1985 edition.
The exhibit features English translations of poems 207-210 of the Aiṅkur̲unūr̲u.
Sreedhara Menon, A. A Survey of Kerala History. Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society, 1967.
Map of Tamilakam – the ancient Tamil-speaking world – during the classical (also known as “Sangam”) period (ca. the 3rd century B.C.E. to 3rd century C.E.). The area roughly includes the current day southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala; parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh; and the northern part of Sri Lanka.