Rath Meave Explained

Rath Meave
Native Name:Ráth Medb
Native Name Lang:ga
Alternate Name:Rath Meabe, Rath Maeve
Map Type:Ireland
Coordinates:53.5667°N -6.6091°W
Location:Odder/Belpere,
County Meath, Ireland
Type:Embanked enclosure
Part Of:Hill of Tara complex
Area:3.978ha
Diameter:230m (760feet)
Circumference:700m (2,300feet)
Material:earth
Built:2000–1500 BC
Epochs:Early Bronze Age
Cultures:Atlantic Bronze Age
Other Designation:National Monument

Rath Meave is a henge located near the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland. It is a National Monument.[1] [2]

Location

Rath Meave is located in the Tara-Skryne Valley, 1.3km (00.8miles) south of the Hill of Tara and 3.4km (02.1miles) east of Kilmessan.

Description

The remains of Rath Meave consist of an approximately circular henge, about 700 metres long, enclosing an area of about 4 hectares.[3] [4]

A cut on the north side of Rath Medb's bank, presumably the entrance, is aligned with the oldest site at Tara, the Mound of the Hostages.

History

Rath Meave was constructed during the fourth phase of Tara's building, in the early Bronze Age (c. 2000–1500 BC). This was around the same time as the Mound of the Hostages was used for burials.[5] It takes its name from Medb Lethderg, a Celtic sovereignty goddess who in Irish legend was the wife or lover of nine successive Kings of Tara. Her relationship to the better-known Medb of Cruachan, legendary Queen of Connacht, is unclear; they may be the same character, or one may have inspired the other. The name Medb means "intoxicator" and is cognate with "mead," making clear the connection between the marriage of the king to the sovereignty goddess and the use of alcohol at these ceremonies.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WAC at Tara - Indymedia Ireland.
  2. Web site: The Tara Symposium and - Indymedia Ireland.
  3. Web site: Rath Maeve ~ Sacred Sites of Ireland. 20 October 2012.
  4. Web site: Faery Initiations. Kisma. Reidling. 1 June 2005. AuthorHouse. Google Books.
  5. Web site: No Harps, No Hounds?.
  6. Web site: Hill of Tara in Tara, Co. Meath - Map, Locate, Directions, Contact. eDynamics. Ltd..