The Lia Fail Standing Stone, Hill of Tara, County Meath, Ireland

Tara, or Teamhair Na Riogh in Irish, reached its greatest importance during the first centuries AD, when it was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. It gradually declined in imprtance with the introduction of Christianity and was finally abandoned in 1022. The Lia Fail stone was moved to its present position to mark the graves of 37 people killed in the 1798 insurrection. Some believe it to be royal inauguration stone, while other suggest that it was the stone used by Jacob as a pillow on the night he deamed about a ladder rising to heaven.