The Hill of Tara, Ireland
The Hill of Tara is said to be one of the most ancient sacred sites in Ireland. Predating the Celts by thousands of years, the archaeological site is covered in tombs, monuments, and Neolithic earthworks, many older than the ancient Pyramids of Egypt. According to legend, Tara is where the mythological Tuatha De Danann reigned, the God-like race of peoples of pre-Christian Ireland, closely associated with the fairies. The Hill of Tara ( Cnoc na Teamhrach ) is made of a variety of structures, believed to have been constructed separately and arbitrarily before the space was combined into one large complex now known as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
Located in County Meath, Ireland, the Hill of Tara rests near the River Boyne which flows into the Irish Sea. The two foremost features are its twin hills, Tara and Skreen, considered to be part of the "greatest orderings of landscape.” Upon Tara sits the Forradh and Tech Cormaic , with the Mound of the Hostages, and together they form the Fort of the Kings. It is said that this was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, a blend of historic and legendary kings said to have ruled Ireland over thousands of years. Teamhair is the ancient name given the Hill of Tara. One of the most religious and revered sites in all of Ireland, it was from this hill that the Ard Ri, the High Kings of Ireland, ruled the land. The place was sometimes called Druim Cain (the beautiful ridge) or Druim na Descan (the ridge of the outlook). When walking the path that leads to the top of the hill today, one can easily appreciate why. The long gradual slope eventually flattens at the top for an amazing view of the broad plains in the Boyne and Blackwater valleys below. All that remains of the complex is a series of grass-covered mounds and earthworks that say little about the 5,000 years of habitation this hill has seen. |
The Mound of Hostages at the Hill of Tara site is an ancient passage tomb in which archaeologists have discovered cremated remains and grave goods from both the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. ( Randall Runtsch / Adobe Stock)
The Mound of Hostages ( Duma na nGiall ) is a Megalithic passage tomb dating back about 5,000 years. The oldest monument at the Hill of Tara, archaeologists have discovered the remains of up to 500 people, many of which were cremated. The dead were often accompanied by grave goods. The mound itself is about 15 meters (49.2 ft) in diameter, with an entrance on its side that leads into a small 4-meter-long (13.1 ft) passageway decorated with ancient carvings. Experts believe that the mound served as both an echo of the High King's authority and as a reminder that kingship was as much a political role as a religious marriage to the divine. According to the 11th century Lebor Gabala E´renn, a symbolic marriage to Queen Medb (also known as Maev or Maeve), the fairy queen and deity from old Irish mythology, was necessary as High King, and the Mound of the Hostages was the passage that linked the two worlds. Enacting the High King's inauguration here wove the divine into the ceremony, inviting Medb herself to join the ritual. 19th century survey map showing the different monuments found at the Hill of Tara. ( Public domain )
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