Kannagi and the Burning of Madurai (Silappadikaram)
Kannagi, a virtuous merchant's daughter, married Kovalan in the Chola city of Puhar. When Kovalan fell for the courtesan Madhavi and squandered all his wealth, he eventually returned to Kannagi. The couple traveled to Madurai, where Kovalan tried to sell one of Kannagi's jeweled anklets to restart his life. The royal goldsmith, who had stolen the queen's similar anklet, falsely accused Kovalan of theft. The Pandya king ordered Kovalan's execution without proper trial. Kannagi stormed into court, broke open her anklet to reveal rubies (the queen's held pearls), proving her husband's innocence.