The Stone of Scone, (pronounced 'scoon') also commonly known as the Stone of Destiny or the Coronation Stone (though the former name sometimes refers to Lia Fáil) is a block of sandstone historically kept at the now-ruined abbey in Scone, near Perth, Scotland. It was used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, the monarchs of England, and, more recently, British monarchs. Other names by which it has sometimes been known include Jacob's Pillow Stone, Jacob's Pillar Stone, and the Tanist Stone. The Lia Fáil is one of two stones named the Stone of Destiny. The other Stone of Destiny sometimes known as the Stone of Scone has recently been removed from the coronation chair of the British monarchs in Westminster Abbey and returned on loan to Scotland. ... Sandstone near Stadtroda, Germany Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... An abbey (from the Latin abbatia, which is derived from the Syriac abba, father), is a Christian monastery or convent, under the government of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serve as the spiritual father or mother of the community. ... Scone is a large village, a mile north of Perth, Scotland. ... The Royal Burgh of Perth (Peairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a large burgh in central Scotland. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The coronation of Empress Farah, of Iran in 1967. ... The Kingdom of Scotland (Alba) was first unified as a state by Kenneth I of Scotland (Kenneth MacAlpin) in 843. ... The Kingdom of England was first unified as a state by Athelstan of Wessex. ... This is a list of British monarchs, that is, the monarchs on the thrones of some of the various kingdoms that have existed on, or incorporated, the island of Great Britain, namely: England (united with Wales from 1536) up to 1707; Scotland up to 1707; The Kingdom of Great Britain... Tanistry (Irish/Gaeilge Tàinste;Scottish Gaelic: Tànaisteachd) was the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the royal dynastys of Ireland and her offshoot nations. ...

Tradition and history

Traditionally, it is supposed to be the pillow stone said to have been used by the Biblical Jacob. According to one legend, it was the Coronation Stone of the early Dál Riata Gaels when they lived in Ireland, which they brought with them when invading Caledonia. Another legend holds that the stone was actually the travelling altar used by St Columba in his missionary activities throughout what is now Scotland. Certainly, since the time of Kenneth Mac Alpin, the first King of Scots, at around 847, Scottish monarchs were seated upon the stone during their coronation ceremony. At this time the stone was situated at Scone, a few miles north of Perth. Jacobs Pillow-Pillar Stone refers to an episode in the Book of Genesis 28:10-18 [1] when the Hebrew patriarch Jacob was running from home after getting the blessing of the first born from his father Isaac (and which his brother Esau also wanted), he came to a... The Gutenberg Bible owned by the United States Library of Congress The Bible (Hebrew: תנ״ך tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hÄ“ biblos, the book) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Work of God, The Word, The Good Book or Scripture), is the name used by Jews and Christians for their differing (and overlapping) canons... It has been suggested that Yaqub be merged into this article or section. ... Dál Riata (also Dalriada or Dalriata) was a Goidelic kingdom on the western seaboard of Scotland and the northern coasts of Ireland, situated in the traditional Scottish and Northern Irish counties of Argyll, Bute and County Antrim. ... The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, whose language is one that is Gaelic (Goidelic), a division of Insular Celtic languages. ... Caledonia is the Latin name, given by the Roman Empire to a northern area of the island of Great Britain. ... Look up Altar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A separate article is titled Columba (constellation). ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ... Kenneth MacAlpin (c. ... This is a list of British monarchs, that is, the monarchs on the thrones of some of the various kingdoms that have existed on, or incorporated, the island of Great Britain, namely: England (united with Wales from 1536) up to 1707; Scotland up to 1707; The Kingdom of Great Britain... Events Succession of Pope Leo IV, (847 - 855) Births Alfred the Great (d. ... The coronation of Empress Farah, of Iran in 1967. ...

Westminster Abbey

The Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey, 1855.

In 1296 the Stone was captured by Edward I as spoils of war and taken to Westminster Abbey, where it was fitted into the old wooden chair, known as St. Edward's Chair, on which English sovereigns were crowned. Doubtless by this he intended to symbolize his claim to be "Lord Paramount" of Scotland with right to oversee its King. However, there is some doubt whether Edward I captured the real stone — it has been suggested that monks at Scone Palace hid the real Stone in the River Tay or buried it on Dunsinane Hill. If so, it is possible that the English troops were fooled into taking the wrong stone; some have claimed that historic descriptions do not appear to fit the present stone. If the monks did hide the real stone, they hid it well, as no other similar stone has been found (although rumors are occasionally heard of Knights Templar claiming to have the original stone in their possession). Stone of Scone the Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey. ... Stone of Scone the Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey. ... Events March 30 - Edward I stormed Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then Scottish border town with much bloodshed. ... Edward I (June 17, 1239–July 7, 1307), popularly known as Longshanks because of his 6 foot 2 inch (1. ... Looting (which derives via the Hindi lut from Sanskrit lunt, to rob) is the inconsiderate taking of valuables triggered by a change in authority or the absence thereof. ... The Abbeys western façade The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... King Edwards Chair, sometimes known as St. ... A monk is a person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. ... Scone Palace is a palace near Perth, in Scotland built 1802-1812. ... The River Tay looking eastwards from Perth The River Tay, in terms of flow (193 kilometres or 120 miles), is the longest river in Scotland. ... Dunsinane Hill is located in Scotland near Dundee. ... The Seal of the Knights — the two riders have been interpreted as a sign of poverty or the duality of monk/soldier. ...

In 1328, in the peace talks between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England, Edward III is said to have agreed to return the captured Stone to Scotland. However, this does not form part of the Treaty of Northampton The Stone was to remain in England for another six centuries. In course of time James VI of Scotland came to the English throne as James I of England but the stone remained in London; for the next century, the Stuart Kings and Queens of Scotland once again sat on the stone — but at their coronation as Kings and Queens of England. Since the Act of Union of 1707, the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey has applied to the whole of Great Britain, and since the Act of Union 1801 to the United Kingdom, so the stone may be said to have returned, once again, to its ancient use. Events Augustiner brew Munich May 1 - Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton - England recognises Scotland as an independent nation after the Wars of Scottish Independence May 12 - Nicholas V is consecrated at St Peters Basilica in Rome by the bishop of Venice. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Capital Edinburgh Government Monarchy Head of State King of Scots Parliament Parliament of Scotland Currency Pound Scots This article is about the historical state called the Kingdom of Scotland (843-1707). ... The Flag of England The Kingdom of England was a kingdom located in Western Europe, in the southern part of the island of Great Britain. ... Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English kings of medieval times. ... Prior to the Treaty of Edinbugh-Northampton, Edward II claimed he adhered to a truce, but he allowed English privateers to attack Flemish vessels trading with Scotland. ... James VI and I King of England, Scotland and Ireland James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ... James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland (Charles James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. ... The Coat of Arms of King James I, the first British monarch of the House of Stuart. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal April 25 - Allied army is defeated by Bourbonic army at Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ...

Removal and damage

On Christmas Day 1950, a group of four Scottish students (Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson and Alan Stuart) took the Stone from Westminster Abbey for return to Scotland. In the process of removing it from the Abbey, they broke it into two pieces. After hiding the greater part of the stone in Kent for a few weeks, they risked the road blocks on the border and returned to Scotland with this piece, which they had hidden in the back of a borrowed car. The smaller piece was similarly brought north a little while later. The Stone was then passed to a senior Glasgow politician who arranged for it to be professionally repaired by Glasgow stonemason Robert Gray. A major search for the stone had been ordered by the British Government, but this proved unsuccessful. Perhaps assuming that the government would not return it to England, the stone's custodians left it, on April 11, 1951, in the symbolic safe keeping of the Church of Scotland on the altar of Arbroath Abbey. Once the London police were informed of its whereabouts, the Stone was returned to Westminster. Afterwards, rumours circulated that copies had been made of the Stone, and that the returned Stone was not in fact the original. Christmas is a Christian holiday held on December 25 which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. ... Ian Hamilton (born 1925) is a high profile Queens Counsel, as well as a prominent Scottish Nationalist. ... Gavin Vernon (born, August 11, 1926, died March 19, 2004) was a participant in the reclamation of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, London, England on Christmas Day, 1950. ... Kay Matheson, born 1928 is a participant in the events surrounding the removal of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1950. ... Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... The art and craft of the stonemason has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures and sculpture using stone and other raw materials from the earth. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The Church of Scotland (CofS, known informally as The Kirk) is the national church of Scotland. ... Arbroath Abbey, showing distinctive sandstone colouring. ...

Returned to Scotland

In 1996 the British Government decided that the Stone should be kept in Scotland when not in use at coronations, and on November 15, 1996, after a handover ceremony at the border between representatives of the Home Office and of the Scottish Office, it was returned to Scotland and transported to Edinburgh Castle where it remains. Although the Stone is back in Scotland, Edinburgh Castle is the military headquarters of the British Army in Scotland, and some Scots have argued that the stone should be kept somewhere with entirely Scottish associations, which could not be interpreted as symbolic of United Kingdom union. Provision has been made to transport the stone to Westminster Abbey when it is required there for future coronation ceremonies. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ... Categories: Stub | Scotland | Departments of the United Kingdom Government ... Edinburgh Castle and NorLoch, around 1780 by Alexander Nasmyth Edinburgh Castle is an ancient stronghold on the Castle Rock in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, has been in use by assorted military forces since 900 BC and only transferred from Ministry of Defence administration recently. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

References in Popular Culture

In the Discworld novel The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett, a pivotal plot point is the theft of a dwarven artifact called the Scone of Stone, a very well preserved bit of dwarven bread that is used in their coronations. Cover art of The Colour of Magic by Josh Kirby Discworld is a series of thirty-four fantasy novels and a number of shorter works by Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld, a flat world on the back of a giant turtle that adheres (loosely) to the conventions of classical... The Fifth Elephant is the 24th Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. ... Terence David John Pratchett OBE is an English fantasy author (born April 28, 1948, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England), best known for his Discworld series. ...

Highlander_(series) featured a humorous episode called the Stone of Scone where Macleod was responsible for the 1950 theft. Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) From the dawn of time we came, moving silently down through the centuries. ...

See also

• Biblical archaeology
• History of Scotland
• Jacob's Pillow-Pillar Stone
• Stone of Destiny
• Stone of Mora

Biblical archaeology involves the recovery and scientific investigation of the material remains of past cultures that can illuminate the periods and descriptions in the Bible. ... Stirling Castle has stood for centuries atop a volcanic crag defending the lowest ford of the River Forth. ... Jacobs Pillow-Pillar Stone refers to an episode in the Book of Genesis 28:10-18 [1] when the Hebrew patriarch Jacob was running from home after getting the blessing of the first born from his father Isaac (and which his brother Esau also wanted), he came to a... Two different historical stones are each known as the Stone of Destiny. ... Fragments of comemmorative stones from the monument Stone of Mora was the monument where the Swedish kings were elected. ...

References

• No Stone Unturned: The Story of the Stone of Destiny, Ian R. Hamilton, Victor Gollancz and also Funk and Wagnalls, 1952, 1953, hardcover, 191 pages, An account of the return of the stone to Scotland in 1950 (older, but more available, look on ABE)
• Taking of the Stone of Destiny, Ian R. Hamilton, Seven Hills Book Distributors, 1992, hardcover, ISBN 0948403241 (modern reprint, but expensive)

Abebooks (ABE) is an international internet based listing service for booksellers based in Victoria, British Columbia. ...

External links

• The Stone of Destiny, an essay by a Canadian amateur
• links to articles about the stone, from a website promoting conspiracy theories and British Israelism.