{{Short description|Archaeological site in Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Irish English|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox ancient site | name =Rath Meave | native_name =Ráth Medb | native_name_lang =ga | alternate_name = Rath Meabe, Rath Maeve | image = Enclosure, Belpere, Co Meath - geograph.org.uk - 1760618.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption =Edge of the enclosure | map = | map_type = Ireland | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_size = | relief = | coordinates = {{coord|53.566716|-6.609074|display=inline,title}} | map_dot_label = | location = Odder/Belpere,<br/>County Meath, Ireland | region = | type = Embanked enclosure | part_of = Hill of Tara complex | length = | width = | area = {{Convert|3.978|ha|acre}} | volume = | diameter = {{Convert|230|m|yd}} | circumference = {{Convert|700|m|yd}} | height = | builder = | material = earth | built = 2000–1500 BC | abandoned = | epochs = Early Bronze Age | cultures = Atlantic Bronze Age | dependency_of = | occupants = | event = | excavations = | archaeologists = | condition = | ownership = | management = | public_access = | other_designation = National Monument | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | notes = }} '''Rath Meave''' is a henge located near the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland. It is a National Monument.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88213?&condense_comments=false#comment231850|title=WAC at Tara - Indymedia Ireland|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indymedia.ie/article/94613?condense_comments=false|title=The Tara Symposium and - Indymedia Ireland|publisher=}}</ref>
==Location== Rath Meave is located in the Tara-Skryne Valley, {{Convert|1.3|km|mi}} south of the Hill of Tara and {{Convert|3.4|km|mi}} east of Kilmessan.
==Description== The remains of Rath Meave consist of an approximately circular henge, about {{Convert|700|m|ft|round=50}} long, enclosing an area of about {{Convert|4|ha|acre|sigfig=1}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacredsites.ie/rath-maeve/|title=Rath Maeve ~ Sacred Sites of Ireland|date=20 October 2012|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BFvvaM0FCEoC&q=%22R%C3%A1th+medb%22&pg=PA129|title=Faery Initiations|first=Kisma|last=Reidling|date=1 June 2005|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-4208-3583-0 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
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 dates to the fourth phase of Tara's construction, 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/no-harps-no-hounds-1.132223|title=No Harps, No Hounds?|newspaper=The Irish Times |publisher=}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mypois.ie/mpoi.php?n=hill-of-tara&i=138441|title=Hill of Tara in Tara, Co. Meath - Map, Locate, Directions, Contact|first=eDynamics|last=Ltd.|publisher=}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Archaeological sites in County Meath Category:National monuments in County Meath