The Mound of Hostages is one of the oldest sites at Tara.
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Introduction
The Hill of Tara is one of Ireland's most famous and mythical ancient sites. This low and not particuarly imposing hill rises to 155 meters, but offers a majestic view across the Plains of Meath and much of the centre of Ireland. There are many ancient monuments spread across the hilltop ranging from the early neolithic to early Christian times. Tara is probably best known as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, and is frequently mentioned in various mythological texts.
Standing at the top or southern extremity of this remain, and bearing in mind the various prose and bardic histories of the Irish annalists, one cannot help reverting to ancient heroic times, and again, in imagination, peopling it with its earthly occupants. Here sat in days of your kings with golden crowns upon their heads; warriors with brazen swords in their hands; bards and minstrals with their harps; grey-bearded ollamhs; druids with their oak-leaf crowns.....
William Wilde
The main monuments at Tara consist of raths, ringforts and enclosures, which are spread across the 2 km long hill. Like most other ancient sites in Ireland, the neolithic people arrived here first. The oldest building at Tara is a small chambered cairn on the summit of the hill which is known as the Mound of the Hostages. This mound, dating to about 3000 BC, lies just within the northern edge of a massive enclosure known as Rath na Rig, The Fort of the Kings. Within this great enclosure are a pair of cojoined ringforts, the Forrad and Teach Cormaic, and within the Forrad is the famous Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny.
Just north of the Mound of the Hostages are the tumbled remains of the Rath of the Synods, which is cut into by the grounds of the modern church. Just north again is a long, linear earthwork, Teach Midchuarta, the so called Banqueting Hall, which is probably the remains of a cursus, or ceremonial pathway. West of the hall is Rath Grainne and the Cloenfherta, the Sloping Trenches. To the south of Rath na Rig is Rath Loegaire, and about 1 km further south on the other end of Tara ridge is Rath Maeve, a massive enclosure.
In addition there are several wells at Tara. Local lore says there were seven wells on the hill; some have been destroyed and filled in. The best known of the wells lies just east of Rath na Rig and has many names: The Well of the Dark Eye, Well of the White Cow, the Physican and the Healer. The water is delicious and as some of the names suggest, it is said to have healing powers. In the graveyard are two pillar stones, one tall and thin, one short and stumpy, which are said to be part of the kingship ritual at Tara. The taller stone has a carving of a Sheela-na-Gig (right).
The interior of the Mound of Hostages.
