16 Development of Literature authors saw the light of day towards the close of the last Sangam Age.. During the same period or a little later, an entirely new type of literature developed. The Epic became the most fascinating branch of literature. The first ancient epic that we have in Tamil Literature is 'Silappathikaram'. It is a story pertaining to a merchant of the ancient Chola capital, Pukar, otherwise known as Kavirippum- pattinam. The three ancient kings of Tamil Nad, Chola, Pandya and Chera, their glorious reigns and the greatness of their governments are spoken of vividly in the memorable epic. It is an epic massive in detail, gripping in its story, and ennobling in its ideal. The characters belong to all orders of society from the king to the dancing girl. It is at once an epic, heroic poetry and poetic drama. This work 'Silappathikoram' thus became the nucleus for the other epics which followed. Next in order of importance came the great work called Manimekalai'. Both of them are called "Twin Epics'. There are many diffe- rences between these two epics in thought, in conception, in treatment, in the underlying
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