Etymology
The derivation of the Latin name Muziris is said to be from the native name to the port "Muchiri-pattanam," "muchiri" means "cleft palate" and "pattanam" means "port/city". In the region, Periyar branched into two like a cleft palate (an abnormal facial development) and thus perhaps gave it the name "Muchiripattanam."
Other names that are often used are Murachipattanam, Marichipattanam, or Muzirikkodu. It is referred to as Muchiri in Sangam literature's Akananuru, Murachipattanam in Valmiki's Ramayana, and as Muzirikode in the Jewish Copper Plate of Bhaskara Ravi Varma (c. 1000 AD). In his Brihtsamhita Varaha Mihira refers to both Baladevapattanam and Marichipattanam as important towns in Kerala. Kern, Varaha Mihira’s translator, identifies these places with the Baliapattana and the Muziris of Ptolemy and other Greek geographers, respectively. Muziris was also mentioned in the 1st century Natural History of Pliny the Elder, the 2nd century Geographia of Ptolemy, the 2nd century Muziris Papyrus (p. Vindob G480822), and the 4th century Tabula Peutingeriana.
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