Historical PlunderTagara is Maharashtra's oldest city, referred to as an important trading town by the second-century AD Greek geographer and astronomer, Ptolemy. It finds mention in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea -- a first-century AD account of contemporary trade and navigation -- as one of the two famous trading centres on the Indian west coast, the other being Pratishthana, modern Paithan in Aurangabad district... "Today, in the absence of political will, Ter's legacy is being ripped apart. A storehouse of artefacts from the second century BC to the 15th-16th centuries AD, it's an archaeologist's dream turning into his worst nightmare," complains A. Jamkhedkar, former director of the state archaeological department. The first excavation of Ter had begun in 1901 under the Raj. The remains of a stupa, a Roman-style temple and a wooden rampart that has a clear Roman influence have been the major finds so far.
by Samyabrata Ray Goswami
Monday, April 9, 2007
20. Directly below this place is the adjoining country of Arabia, in its length bordering a great distance on the Erythraean Sea. Different tribes inhabit the country, differing in their speech, some partially, and some altogether. The land next the sea is similarly dotted here and there with caves of the Fish-Eaters, but the country inland is peopled by rascally men speaking two languages, who live in villages and nomadic camps, by whom those sailing off the middle course are plundered, and those surviving shipwrecks are taken for slaves. And so they too are continually taken prisoners by the chiefs and kings of Arabia; and they are called Carnaites. Navigation is dangerous along this whole coast of Arabia, which is without harbors, with bad anchorages, foul, inaccessible because of breakers and rocks, and terrible in every way. Therefore we hold our course down the middle of the gulf and pass on as fast as possible by the country of Arabia until we come to the Burnt Island; directly below which there are regions of peaceful people, nomadic, pasturers of cattle, sheep and camels...
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