Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

The Sacred Tara Hill, 257
exhumed in 18 16, after having been buried for ages. Its
cross was represented in a sun figure, as in Egypt. There
were the marks of the snake about it, though much
defaced.
The so-called Druidical temple of New Grange, one of
the most wonderful monuments of old Ireland, is in the
form of a Latin cross. There are four angled crosses or
fylfots within a circle. The emblem, seen also on cromlechs,
may be a reminiscence of Baal, or of the Scandinavian
Thor, both being associated with crosses. The pyramidal
cross, observed at New Grange, was known in countries as
far apart as India and the Tonga Isles. Every one knows
that the several deities of ancient Egypt are recognized by
the cross they hold in their hands.
They who would study the subject further may consult
O'Neal's Irish Crosses, and Rolt Brash's Sculptured Crosses
of Ireland. By comparing the information therein with
accounts of Egyptian, Persian, Phoenician, Babylonian,
Hindoo, and other ancient crosses, the conviction will be
strengthened that, from whatever sources derived, Ireland
was acquainted with the Cross, as a religious emblem of
some sort, long before the Christian era.
THE SACRED TARA HILL.
Tara, Temor, Temhuir, or Temoria, is intimately connected
with the early religion of Ireland, and has been
associated with singular theories. As Tea-mur, it was the
mount or home of Queen Tea, wife of the Milesian King
Heremon. The centre of Druidical song and power, the
seat of ancient royalty, Tara was a favourite subject of
glorification by ancient annalists, and has been immortalized
in the poem of jMoore. But, while bards record
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