The Stone That Roars for a King
On the Hill of Tara stands a standing stone that, legend says, cried out aloud when the rightful king of Ireland touched it.
What was reported
The Hill of Tara in County Meath was the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland, crowded with earthworks and monuments thousands of years old. On its summit stands the Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny.
In Irish mythology, the stone was brought to Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of gods. When the true king placed his feet on it, it roared with joy so loudly that it could be heard across Ireland. One legend says it fell silent after the hero Cú Chulainn struck it in anger when it didn't roar for his friend.
Explanations offered
The stone is real, though it's not certain this is the original Lia Fáil, as it was moved in the 1800s. The Hill of Tara has been a sacred and royal site since the Stone Age. Stones of kingship appear in other traditions too, like the Stone of Scone in Scotland.
- When
- Told since ancient times
- Where
- Hill of Tara, County Meath, Ireland
- Witnesses
- Irish myth
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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