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Tara
Tara is a female deity in both Hinduism and Buddhism who personifies compassion and offers salvation from the suffering of rebirth and death. She is thought to have been born of empathy for the suffering world and is regularly invoked for...
Definition
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara is an ancient Neolithic Age site in County Meath, Ireland. It was known as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, the site of coronations, a place of assembly for the enacting and reading of laws, and for religious festivals...
Definition
Flann Sinna
Flann Sinna (r. 879-916 CE) was a High King of Ireland from the Kingdom of Mide (Meath) and a member of the Clann Cholmain, a branch of the Southern Ui Neill dynasty. His name is pronounced “Flahn Shinna” and means “Flann of the Shannon”...
Image
White Tara and Green Tara
White Tara and Green Tara, distemper on cloth painting, 1450-1500, Guge, Western Tibet.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Definition
Ancient Ireland
Ireland is an island country located in the North Atlantic, bounded by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St. George's Channel. It is known as Eire in the Gaelic language, which comes from the old Irish Eriu, the name of a daughter of...
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Celtic Brooches
Ancient and medieval Celtic cultures produced many forms of jewellery, and one distinctive category is their brooches, fibulae, and pins. Without zips and buttons, brooches were used to close items of clothing, to create a pleasing or fashionable...
Image
Tara Statue
Statue of the goddess Tara. Bihar, 10th century.
Indian Museum, Calcutta
Definition
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick (5th century) is the best-known patron saint of Ireland and one of the most successful Christian missionaries in history. He is credited with expanding literacy in Ireland through the monastic orders he established, revising...
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The Tara Brooch
The Tara Brooch is a Celtic penannular brooch discovered not at Tara but on a beach near Bettystown in County Meath, Ireland. Made in the 8th century CE from gilded silver with glass, amber and enamel inlay. 8.9 centimetres (3.5 in) in diameter...
Definition
Soma
Soma was a fermented juice drink which was believed to have been consumed by the Hindu gods and their ancient priests, the brahmanas, during rituals. Thought to be an elixir its consumption not only healed illness but also brought great riches...