Stone of Scone: Mysterious Stone Of Destiny Has Turbulent Ancient History
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Stone of Destiny is more popularly known as the Stone of Scone. It is an enigmatic block of sandstone, used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland and England.
What is the story behind this mysterious Stone? Why is it associated with royalty?
Coronation Chair With Stone of Scone. Image licensed under Creative Commons by Cornell University Library
The Stone of Destiny's history is complicated yet extremely interesting. The enigmatic artifact symbolizes one of the most significant and longest-running disputes the British Isles has witnessed over the last 700 years – between Scotland and England.
According to a Celtic legend, the Stone was a pillow used by the patriarch Jacob in biblical times. While Jacob was resting at Bethel in Israel, he beheld a vision of angels.
From the Holy Land, the Stone of Destiny made its journey to Egypt, Sicily, and Spain, and finally, about 700 bc, it reached Ireland, after which it was set up on the Hill of Tara, where the kings of Ireland were crowned.
The Stone was believed to have been brought to Scotland in the 9th century, and after being seized by plundering Celtic Scots who invaded and occupied Scotland, it ended up in the village of Scone in 840 AD.
A copy of the Stone of Scone. Image credit: Bubobubo2 - CC BY-SA 3.0
Until the 13th century, all of the kings of Scotland were seated on it during their coronation ceremonies, which took place at Moot Hill at Scone Palace. (Today, there is only a replica of the Stone there.)
John Balliol was the last Scottish king crowned on the Stone at Scone in 1292.
The Stone came to England amidst bloodshed and bitter rivalry between England and Scotland in the late 13th century. Edward, I removed the Stone in 1296 and took it to Westminster Abbey. He placed it under a special throne called the Coronation Chair so that all future kings of England could be crowned king of Scotland. But it did not happen for many years, until 1603, when James VI of Scotland was also crowned James I of England.
Despite its rather unremarkable appearance, this very ancient block of sandstone has had a turbulent history. It has been hidden, fought over, and stolen during the seven centuries. It was essential to the Children of Israel, and at the same time, the Stone was long associated with the British kings and queens
On December 25, 1950, a group of Scottish Nationalists removed the Stone and brought it back to Scotland. (However, there have been rumors that only a copy of the artifact was returned.) On April 11, 1951, the Stone of Scone was found at the altar of Arbroath Abbey in Scotland.
In 1996, John Major's government finally returned the Stone to Scotland and placed it on public display in Edinburgh Castle, where it remains.
Could the Stone of Scone or Stone of Destiny be one of the most important religious relics in the world?
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Updated on December 21, 2022
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Huge Ptolemaic/Roman Funerary Structure Unearthed In Egypt’s Fayoum
Archaeology | Dec 6, 2022
-
Ancient Egyptians Invented World’s Oldest Egg Ovens And They Are Still In Use
Ancient History Facts | Jul 6, 2021
-
Largest Ever Human Family Tree: 27 Million Ancestors Mapped
Archaeology | Feb 25, 2022
-
On This Day In History: Dr Martin Luther King Was Born – On Jan 15, 1929
News | Jan 15, 2017
-
Is The Tomb Of Genghis Khan Hidden And Protected In The Khentii Mountains Because Some Fear It’s Cursed?
Featured Stories | Jul 16, 2021
-
Ancient Tomb Of ‘Bird Oracle Markos’ Unearthed In Bergama (Pergamon), Turkey
Archaeology | Sep 6, 2022
-
Famous Philosopher Plato: One The Greatest Thinkers Of All Time And His Concept Of Soul
Featured Stories | Jun 25, 2018
-
Legend Of Fintan Mac Bochra Who Escaped The Great Flood And Became The First Man In Ireland
Featured Stories | Aug 26, 2021
-
Horses Skinfaxi And Hrimfaxi – Bringers Of Light And Darkness To Earth In Norse Mythology
Featured Stories | Dec 16, 2017
-
Obsidian Flake From 45,000-Year-Old Tool Unearthed In Armenia
Archaeology | Jul 18, 2022
-
Riddle Of An Ancient Underground City No-One Thinks Exist – Have We Misunderstood Plato? Part 1
Featured Stories | Sep 16, 2019
-
Major Discovery Reveals Neanderthals In Italy Engaged In Plant Food Processing
Evolution | Jun 29, 2023
-
Missing ‘Delmenhorst’: 17th Century Danish Warship From ‘Battle Of Fehmarn’ Found
Archaeology | Sep 22, 2020
-
New Fossil Of 145-Million-Year-Old Pterosaur Nicknamed Elvis
Fossils | Jul 14, 2023
-
Tuonela – The Land Of The Dead In Beliefs Of Ancient Finnish People
Featured Stories | Nov 9, 2021
-
Our Lives Have Always Been Manipulated By Money – Part 1
Featured Stories | Jun 2, 2022
-
Manasota People: Will 1,300-year-Old Village Tell Us About Their Lives?
Archaeology | Jan 11, 2016
-
1,800-Year-Old Relief Of Mythological Satyr Figure Under Restoration
Artifacts | Sep 5, 2020
-
The Oldest Denisovan Fossils Ever Discovered Shed New Light On Early Hominins As They Spread Across Eurasia
Archaeology | Nov 30, 2021
-
1,600-Year-Old Estate Of Wealthy Samaritan With A Rare Greek Inscription – Discovered
Archaeology | Mar 6, 2019