Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t9.6

c28.s6.t9.6

The expression *matir-ay* may perhaps be interpreted literally as 'a walled (city)'. Cf. (Ta.) *matil*, (Tu.) *madulu*, (Te.) *maduru*, (Koṇḍa) *madru* 'wall, fortification' (D. 4692). Cf. also (Ta.) *matalai*, (Ko.) *madl* 'cornice, lintel of doorway' (D. 4689). It is perhaps significant that *kapāṭapuram*, said to be the still more ancient capital of the Pāṇṭiya kingdom and seat of the Iṭaiccaṅkam (*Iṟai*. 1, comm.), also means literally 'city with (fortified) portals'. Cf. *dvārakā* (Skt.) 'name of a city'.