The author of the ancient Tamil epic ‘Silappatikaram’ was:

Ilango Adigal
Thiruvalluvar
Kamban
Avvaiyar

The correct answer is Ilango Adigal.

Ilango Adigal was a Tamil poet and the author of the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram. He was born in the Chola dynasty and lived in the 2nd century CE. Silappatikaram is one of the five great epics of Tamil literature. It tells the story of Kannagi, a beautiful woman who is widowed when her husband is falsely accused of murder. She sets out on a journey to avenge his death and eventually succeeds in bringing about the downfall of the king who was responsible for his murder.

Thiruvalluvar was a Tamil poet and philosopher who lived in the 1st century CE. He is best known for his work Tirukkural, a collection of 1330 couplets on a variety of topics, including ethics, morality, and social justice.

Kamban was a Tamil poet who lived in the 12th century CE. He is best known for his work Ramayana Kandam, an epic poem that retells the story of the Ramayana from the perspective of the Tamil people.

Avvaiyar was a Tamil poet who lived in the 6th century CE. She is best known for her work Natrinai, a collection of 100 poems on a variety of topics, including love, nature, and religion.