Above is the roadside monument near Scota’s grave – Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland
“There are variations of this story—Irish and Scottish alike—and I encourage you to explore further if it intrigues you. This is the Irish version, and for context, you may wish to read my article on Akhenaten to understand why Egypt’s royal family moved from Luxor to Tel El Amarna, and how the idea of one God began.”
After a decade in Tel El Amarna, Akhenaten and his royal family found themselves at odds with Egypt’s powerful priesthood. The once-accepted distance from Thebes (modern-day Luxor) had become a point of contention. Dissatisfaction grew, and revolution loomed.
Young Tutankhamun, just six years old, was sent back to Luxor—likely bearing a message from his father: that Akhenaten had erred in dismissing Egypt’s traditional gods, and that they should be restored. Some versions of the tale suggest Nefertari accompanied him in disguise, but she was not his mother. In truth, Tutankhamun’s mother was Akhenaten’s sister (proved by DNA testing of mummies)—a fact that may support the ancient belief in the purity and power of bloodlines, especially in royal dynasties.
These beliefs extended beyond Egypt. Similar importance was placed on lineage in the legends of the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, and even across the royal houses of Europe. When turmoil threatened the Egyptian throne, it made sense to safeguard the royal line by sending family members into exile.
This brings us to Scota—believed by some to be Tutankhamun’s sister.
A Princess in Exile
According to legend, a body adorned in Egyptian regalia was found beneath the Hill of Tara in Ireland, and another under Trinity College, Dublin. These findings lend credibility to the tale of an Egyptian princess who fled her homeland and sailed west. She arrived first in Spain, bringing with her ships, soldiers, and trusted followers.
There, she met a man named Milesius—possibly a version of the name “Miles.” They married and had seven sons. I will refer to the princess from here as Scota, the name under which she’s most famously remembered.
Tragedy soon followed. Milesius was killed—perhaps the result of a family feud that had previously brought him to Spain. Scota, with the resolve expected of Egyptian royalty, vowed not to let her husband’s death go unavenged.
She gathered her forces and set sail for Ireland.
Arrival in Ireland
The journey was perilous. One of Scota’s sons fell overboard and drowned; another died of illness. With five sons remaining, Scota’s group landed at Dingle in County Kerry and crossed the rugged Sliebh Mish mountains, establishing camp.
They soon met resistance from the native Irish warriors—the De Danaan—and a brutal battle ensued.
Scota and one of her sons were killed in the fighting, as was an Irish chieftain and the wife of another. A truce was called. The Egyptians took 90 days to mummify Scota and her son, and buried them at Gleann na Scota, near Tralee, County Kerry—a site still shrouded in mystery and legend today.
The Founding of Scotland and the Return to Ireland
Scota’s four surviving sons sailed north to Caledonia (now Scotland). In her memory, they renamed the land Scota Land—a name believed to be the origin of the modern Scotland.
But their journey wasn’t over. The princes rebuilt their army and returned once more to Ireland. This time, they were victorious. They overthrew the reigning chieftain and divided rule among themselves, each taking turns as leader for a period of three years.
One of the oldest recorded versions of this legend appears in the “Annals of the Four Masters,” housed in the National Library of Ireland, and also available to read online.
Final Thoughts
Legends like this, whether wholly factual or laced with symbolism, offer fascinating windows into how ancient civilizations may have influenced each other in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Whether Scota was real or mythological, her story has lived for centuries—in monuments, manuscripts, and oral tradition—and continues to shape cultural identity across Ireland and Scotland to this day.
Some years ago I came across the Annals of the Four Masters online – it is a manuscript held in the National Library of Ireland. There it lists the names of the clans that were descended from the 4 sons of Scota. When I found my family name there – O’Coileain – it did make me wonder if it was some tiny remaining shread of Scota’s DNA in me that makes Egypt feel like home…