Teltown
The earthworks of Teltown ( Irish Tailtin , Old Irish Tailtiu - the beautiful) are near the N3 in County Meath between Kells and Navan in Ireland . The name goes back to the old Irish goddess Tailtiu and is said to have been given to the place by her husband, the Firbolg king Eochaid mac Eirc . The place was the pagan center of a cult that took place at Lughnasadh (August 1st) in honor of the dead goddess a. a. was celebrated with religious gatherings, poetic competitions and a market (altir. Óenach Tailten , "Assembly of Tailtin").
Several earthworks have been preserved here:
- The largest is the Rath Dubh (the black Rath). The rath is 45 m in diameter. In the center there was once a menhir , similar to the Lia Fáil in Tara . Burned bones were found in a field east of the Rath.
- The Crockans is a big long hill associated with the "Teltown Wedding". Couples married here according to Celtic law until the 19th century by shaking hands through a hole in a stone and later in a wooden door. They lived together for at least a year and a day after this ceremony.
In 2005 the Irish archaeologist George Eogan , who became known through the excavation of Knowth , discovered concentric circles as rock carvings in the listed Teltown house, dating back to 2000 BC. To be dated.
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 42 ′ 46.4 " N , 6 ° 46 ′ 30.8" W.