First Sangam

The First Sangam period (Tamil: முதற்சங்க பருவம், Muthaṟchanga paruvam) or the First Academy, also known as the Head Sangam period (Tamil: தலைச்சங்க பருவம், Thalaichanga paruvam), was a legendary period in the history of Ancient Tamilakam said to be the foremost of Tamil Sangams, known in the Tamil language as koodal (Tamil: கூடல்) or "gathering". It is the first of three Tamil Sangams of Classical Tamil literature. While most historians accept the historicity of this literature, they also understand that some literary academies would have held Pandyan patronage. This is not to be confused with the historical Third Sangam period which lasted roughly from 600 BCE to 300 CE.