Scotia's Grave
Encyclopedia
Scotia's Grave or Scota's grave is an area just south of Tralee in County Kerry
beside the Finglas rivulet in an area known as Trughanacmy. It marks what is reputed to be the grave of Scota
, a daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh
known as Friel The traditional name of the location is Glenn Scoithin, 'vale of the little flower'. "Scoithin here may be a diminutive of Scota, and the 't' being aspirated, it may prove that the name 'Sgota' meant, as heretofor suggested, not 'Scythian woman', but was the Gaelic
synonym for Rosa or Flora, usual names of women."
According to several references in medieval Irish mythology Scotia, wife of the former Milesius and mother of six sons, was killed in battle with the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann
on the nearby Slieve Mish mountain. Scotia had come to Ireland in 1,700BC, to avenge the death of her husband, the King who had been wounded in a previous ambush in south Kerry.
She was an accomplished horsewoman
, but, while pregnant, attempted to jump a bank that would not normally have presented a problem. However, the extra mass of her pregnancy caused her to fall and die.
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
beside the Finglas rivulet in an area known as Trughanacmy. It marks what is reputed to be the grave of Scota
Scota
Scota, in Irish mythology, Scottish mythology, and pseudohistory, is the name given to two different mythological daughters of two different Egyptian Pharaohs to whom the Gaels traced their ancestry, allegedly explaining the name Scoti, applied by the Romans to Irish raiders, and later to the Irish...
, a daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
known as Friel The traditional name of the location is Glenn Scoithin, 'vale of the little flower'. "Scoithin here may be a diminutive of Scota, and the 't' being aspirated, it may prove that the name 'Sgota' meant, as heretofor suggested, not 'Scythian woman', but was the Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
synonym for Rosa or Flora, usual names of women."
According to several references in medieval Irish mythology Scotia, wife of the former Milesius and mother of six sons, was killed in battle with the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
on the nearby Slieve Mish mountain. Scotia had come to Ireland in 1,700BC, to avenge the death of her husband, the King who had been wounded in a previous ambush in south Kerry.
She was an accomplished horsewoman
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, but, while pregnant, attempted to jump a bank that would not normally have presented a problem. However, the extra mass of her pregnancy caused her to fall and die.