COTTIARA(Κοττιάρα, Ptol. 7.1.9), the chief city, according to Ptolemy, of the Aei, a tribe who occupied the lower part of the Peninsula of Hindostan. It is probably the same place which is mentioned by Pliny (Plin. Nat. 6.23. 26) under the names of Cottona or Cottonara, and from which the best pepper was obtained, according to the author of the Periplus (p. 32). It has been supposed by some to be represented now by Cochin, Calicat, or Travancore;on the whole, Cochinis probably the most likely.
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