Tamil Inscriptions of Fort Hammenhiel
A pillar containing two Tamil inscriptions has been discovered at Hammenhiel Fort in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. Discovery
The pillar which had been attached to the outer wall of the Hammenhiel Fort was discovered by Herbert Keuneman while spending a holiday at the fort (Indrapala, 1991). The pillar is said to have been built into the outer wall of the fort on the eastern side at a height of nearly eleven feet from the base (Indrapala, 1991). Subsequently, it was removed from the fort wall by the Department of Archaeology and is presently kept on display in the Archaeological Museum of Jaffna .
The pillar, due to the ornamental carvings it has, is believed to be a door jamb that once had formed part of a Hindu temple (Indrapala, 1991). That Hindu temple, according to the view of Indrapala, may exist at Matottam in Mannar District and the pillar along with other stones was transported to the Hammenhiel by sea later to repair the Dutch fort (Indrapala, 1991). Inscriptions
Two inscripti…
