# Rath Meave

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rath_Meave.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rath_Meave
> Source revision: 1280410335
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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](/source/County_Meath), Ireland
| region         = 
| type           = Embanked enclosure
| part_of        = [Hill of Tara](/source/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](/source/Atlantic_Bronze_Age)
| dependency_of  = 
| occupants      = 
| event          = 
| excavations    =  
| archaeologists = 
| condition      = 
| ownership      = 
| management     = 
| public_access  = 
| other_designation = [National Monument](/source/National_Monument_(Ireland))
| website        = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| notes          = 
}}
'''Rath Meave''' is a [henge](/source/henge) located near the [Hill of Tara](/source/Hill_of_Tara) in  [County Meath](/source/County_Meath), [Ireland](/source/Ireland). It is a [National Monument](/source/National_Monument_(Ireland)).<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](/source/Skryne), {{Convert|1.3|km|mi}} south of the [Hill of Tara](/source/Hill_of_Tara) and {{Convert|3.4|km|mi}} east of [Kilmessan](/source/Kilmessan).

==Description==
The remains of Rath Meave consist of an approximately circular [henge](/source/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](/source/Mound_of_the_Hostages).

==History==

Rath Meave dates to the fourth phase of Tara's construction, in the early [Bronze Age](/source/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](/source/The_Irish_Times) |publisher=}}</ref> It takes its name from [Medb Lethderg](/source/Medb_Lethderg), a [Celtic](/source/Ancient_Celtic_religion) [sovereignty goddess](/source/sovereignty_goddess) who in [Irish legend](/source/Irish_legend) was the wife or lover of nine successive [Kings of Tara](/source/Kings_of_Tara). Her relationship to the better-known [Medb](/source/Medb) of [Cruachan](/source/Rathcroghan), legendary Queen of [Connacht](/source/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](/source/mead)," making clear the connection between the marriage of the king to the sovereignty goddess and the use of [alcohol](/source/alcohol_(drug)) 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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rath Meave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rath_Meave) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rath_Meave?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.