Scotia's Grave

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Scotia's Grave is a very ancient stone structure located just south of Tralee in Co. Kerry, beside a rivulet. It marks what is said to be the grave of a daughter of Neferhotep I Egyptian Pharaoh, 13th Dynasty, about 1800 BCE or Necho II also referred to as Nekau II - 610 BCE. She is also known as Scota.

According to a 1700 BC legend Scotia, wife of the former Milesius and mother of six sons, was killed in battle with the legendary Tuatha De Danaan on the nearby Slieve Mish mountain. Scotia had come to Ireland 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.

As legend has it, an Irish prince was doing mercenary military work in Egypt for the Pharaoh, who was so delighted with the results that he gave a daughter in part payment for the work done.

Hieroglyphics mark her mound like a tomb.