Entrance to the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala where $22 billion in gold coins, statues and jewels have been discovered in subterranean vaults. Photo: P.K. Niyogi, Wikimedia Commons.
Do you think there are no more adventures to be had? Think again.
Here’s a story tailor-made for Indiana Jones: In “A $22 Billion Question for India: What to Do With a Treasure?” (The New York Times, July 9, 2011 ), Vikas Bajaj writes of the uproar over the stunning discovery of six vaults crammed with gold coins, statues and jewels beneath the 8th century Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala’s capital city of Thiruvanathapuram.
The debate, it seems, is between those who believe the treasure should stay at the Hindu temple, which is administered by a trust run by the former royal family of the old kingdom of Travancore, and others who insist it be turned over to the government for public works such as a subway system.
The Indian Supreme Court will ultimately decide the treasure’s fate, but in the meantime it’s the backstory that’s really fascinating. For one thing, a temple archaeologist says that the extravagant trove—which includes a three-and-a-half foot tall gold statue of the god Mahavishnu studded with rubies and emeralds—came from the rich trade in “pepper that the Travancore kingdom used to sell to Europeans and others.”
In fact pepper was once so rare, at least in Europe and the Mediterranean, that it was literally worth its weight in gold. In ancient times traders braved the perils of the Indian Ocean to buy Indian peppercorns at the fabled port of Cochin. It was the lust for pepper and other spices that spurred Vasco da Gama and other daring explorers to seek lucrative new routes to the East Indies. America was accidentally discovered when Columbus failed in his own quest.
But there’s more to this adventure. A sixth vault beneath the temple has never been opened. On its door, there’s an image of a serpent and, according to The Times, “previous attempts to open the vault have been unsuccessful because the entrance is sealed with a thick steel door and granite pillars.” What’s inside? “Local legend has it that the vault is filled with snakes.”
Haven’t we already seen Harrison Ford in a pit, fighting off poisonous vipers with a blazing torch? Stay tuned.
Thiercelin’s Spice (and Adventure) Catalog
Pages from "Raiders of the Lost Taste," the quirky new catalogue from Thiercelin, a French spice company.
Feeling restless because you’re spending the summer at home? You might like to look at the quirky new spice catalogue from Thiercelin. The Thiercelins have been in the saffron business for 7 generations. They not only run a large spice company that sells “natural flavorings from the vegetable kingdom” to chefs and industry, but pere Jean Marie Thiercelin also presides over Paris’s most wondrous spice shop, Goumanyat et Son Royaume, where you can find everything from rare red Pondicherry peppercorns to fragrant Persian rose water.
At the moment the Thiercelins are in Washington DC at the Fancy Food Show introducing their products to the American market. But wandering through “Raiders of the Lost Taste” is so much more fun and relaxing. “Inscribed” in a typical French grid notebook, it’s as much a spice-obsessed travel diary with handwritten comments and photos as it is a catalogue. You can meet some of the Thiercelins and read a bit of their history, then follow them to the saffron harvest in the Iranian province of Khorasan where you’ll see fields of glorious crocus in bloom. Two pages later you’re in Madagascar, where thousands of glossy brown vanilla beans are curing in the sun. Lots of gorgeous photos (and spices) to sigh over.
Comments (2)
It's amazing that the trade of pepper could bring such wealth. The history of spices and their trade is truly fascinating. Thanks for writing about this. Have any pictures been published of the vault contents? I hope that the royal family can decide what happens to the contents and that they are at least cataloged for others to see and study. And that they get security in place soon!
The Thiercetin brochure is really a great piece. I didn't know that anyone sold candied flowers. Has anyone tried their suggestion of putting one flower into a glass of champagne, allowing it to tint the wine pink or purple? Sounds like fun.
Posted by Nancy | July 10, 2011 5:04 AM
Posted on July 10, 2011 05:04
No, alas, I haven't seen any photographs of the treasure but that's probably for the best. As you say, they would be wise to get security in place. You can just imagine the plots that are being spun right now...
Occasionally I do see candied flowers here, but usually I buy sugared violets and rose petals in London or Paris--Fortnum and Mason has glass jars of the flowers at the candy counter. India Tree is one company that sells them over here--you can find them on Amazon. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/India-Tree-Candied-Rose-Petals/dp/B000GPMGW4 Adorable on cupcakes and I love the idea of dissolving one or two in champagne!
Posted by Courtenay | July 10, 2011 8:51 AM
Posted on July 10, 2011 08:51