Things you didn't know about the 'Lord of the Rings' author
The Stone of Scone, an oblong slab of weathered sandstone, has been the source of mystery and intrigue for centuries. Also referred to as the Stone of Destiny, this ancient and enigmatic treasure was long used to crown Scottish kings before a jealous English sovereign intruded north of the border and stole it. But the history of the Stone of Scone goes far beyond the coronations of monarchs, with legend tracing its origins back 3,000 years to the Holy Land.
So, what exactly is this baffling block of stone, and is it real? Click through the following gallery and unravel the curious story of the Stone of Scone.
There are several accounts relating to the stone's origins. A popular Celtic legend suggests it served as the pillow upon which the patriarch Jacob rested at Bethel when he beheld the visions of angels.
It's said the stone was brought from Syria to Egypt by King Gathelus, who then fled to Spain following the defeat of the Egyptian army. From Spain, the sandstone block reached Tara in Ireland in about 700 BCE, where it was used as a coronation stone for the ancient Celtic kings.
The stone was likely brought to Scotland by the Celtic Scots, perhaps on the orders of the legendary Gaelic king Fergus Mor. Around 840 CE, it was taken by Kenneth MacAlpin, the first king of a united Scotland, to the village of Scone in Perthshire.
For centuries, the stone was kept at the Moot Hill in the vicinity of the now-ruined Scone Abbey, a house of Augustinian canons.
It was Scone that gave the stone its name. But the mysterious artifact also became known as the Stone of Destiny. Thereafter, it was used as a seat to crown Scottish kings, the last being John de Balliol in 1292.
In 1296, the forces of King Edward I of England captured the stone during Edward's invasion of Scotland, its symbolic value not lost on the victorious monarch.
The stone was moved to Westminster Abbey in London in 1307. There, Edward had a special throne, called the Coronation Chair, built so that the stone fit under it. Symbolically, all those crowned as kings of England on the chair would also be crowned as kings of Scotland.
In 1603, King James VI of Scotland became James I of England. James was crowned on the Stone of Scone. To patriotic Scots, his succession fulfilled a prophecy that a Scotsman ruled where the Stone of Scone was set down.
The stone was subsequently used in the coronation of English and British monarchs for over 500 years.
By now more often called the Stone of Destiny, the ancient artifact suffered significant damage when a bomb planted as part of the suffragette bombing and arson campaign of 1912–1914 exploded next to the Coronation Chair and broke the stone in half, although this wasn't discovered until 1950.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Stone of Destiny was secretly moved to Gloucester Cathedral for the duration of the conflict. Few people were aware of this move, the stone being hidden behind ancient lead coffins in a burial vault deep under the cathedral.
The damage caused by the bomb in 1914 was only revealed after the stone was stolen from Westminster Abbey in 1950 by Scottish nationalists, who took it back to Scotland.
The thieves weren't professionals. Instead, they were student members of the Scottish Covenant Association, a group that supported home rule for Scotland.
According to police reports, the stone was initially buried in a field in Kent before it was uncovered and taken north of the border.
A major search for the missing artifact was undertaken but proved fruitless. Then on April 11, 1951, a stone said to resemble the Stone of Destiny was discovered on the altar of Arbroath Abbey.
In an operation that mirrored that of a crime scene investigation, the stone was recovered by detectives and returned to Westminster four months after its removal.
Soon afterwards, however, rumors circulated that copies of the stone had been made, and that the returned stone was not the original. This hearsay still persists today.
The Coronation Chair has taken part in 39 coronations, from 1399 when Henry IV was crowned, to 2023 and the coronation of King Charles III. Pictured is the coronation on May 12, 1937, of King George VI.
The royal furniture made its television debut on June 2, 1953, during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. In Scotland however, the Stone of Destiny's brief return to its homeland had prompted a growing discussion around Scottish cultural history.
On July 3, 1996, the British Government announced that the Stone of Destiny would return to Scotland, 700 years after it had been taken. It's seen here making its way through the streets of Edinburgh.
The return of the Stone of Destiny took place amidst growing support for Scottish devolution. It was delivered to Edinburgh Castle.
The legendary artifact was placed in the care of custodians at the castle for several weeks in readiness for an official handover.
England handed over the stone to Scotland on November 15, 1996, in a solemn ceremony at the castle, presided over by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who was representing the Queen.
In December 2020, it was announced that the Stone of Destiny would be relocated to Perth Museum, which opened in March 2024.
In September 2022, Historic Environment Scotland announced that the stone would temporarily return to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Charles III. It's clearly visible tucked under the Coronation Chair.
After the coronation on May 6, 2023, the Stone of Destiny was put on temporary display at the abbey before being returned to Edinburgh Castle in readiness for its rehousing in Perth.
Back in Scotland, the revered block of masonry took center stage at a service of thanksgiving and dedication for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The Stone of Destiny is still the subject of conspiracy theorists, some of whom claim the stone now housed in Perth Museum is a fake and representative of the Scots and the English duping each other throughout history.
Though not a fake, there is a duplicate Stone of Destiny to be admired set on Moot Hill, within the grounds of Scone Palace.
The site has links to Scottish royalty that date back more than a thousand years, and the weathered copy, which locals still prefer to call the Stone of Scone, stands as a symbol of ancient tradition, royal authority, and the enduring spirit of a nation.
Sources: (Britannica) (National Geographic) (Historic UK) (Scone Palace) (House Beautiful)
See also: Why is the Union Flag called Jack?
What is the mystery surrounding the Stone of Scone?
This ancient block of sandstone has a curious past
LIFESTYLE History
The Stone of Scone, an oblong slab of weathered sandstone, has been the source of mystery and intrigue for centuries. Also referred to as the Stone of Destiny, this ancient and enigmatic treasure was long used to crown Scottish kings before a jealous English sovereign intruded north of the border and stole it. But the history of the Stone of Scone goes far beyond the coronations of monarchs, with legend tracing its origins back 3,000 years to the Holy Land.
So, what exactly is this baffling block of stone, and is it real? Click through the following gallery and unravel the curious story of the Stone of Scone.