Ramayana timeline explained: Why the epic’s story, manuscripts and artworks may belong to different eras

The Ramayana may not have a single historical date, with its story, written manuscripts and artwork emerging in different periods, according to mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik. He estimates the underlying story to be around 3,000 years old, the manuscripts about 2,000 years old and the earliest artwork roughly 1,500 years old.