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THE
STONE OF DESTINY
On
30th November 1996 (St Andrew's Day), Scotland's coronation stone, the
Stone of Destiny, was returned back to Scotland from Westminter Abbey
and installed in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle.
Also known as the Stone of Scone it looks like an ordinary piece of sandstone but it is full of deep symbolic meaning and centuries of Anglo-Scottish rivalry.
It had been used as a traditional coronation seat for Scottish kings and queens for centuries. The last Scottish monarch to be crowned on the stone was King Edward Balliol in 1292 before it was stolen by King Edward I also known as Longshanks and Hammer of The Scots and taken to Westminster Abbey.
In 1950 a group of Scottish Nationalists stole the stone back to Scotland, mainly as a gesture but it was soon returned. Although it has been brought into question several times about the authenticity of the stone.
The
stone, alleged to be Jacob's pillow, was brought to Scotland in the 9th
Century after a round trip which included Scicily, Egypt, Spain and Ireland.
The stone moved around along with the seat of Scottish Power from Iona,
Dunstaffinage and on to Scone.
Many people feel Scone to be the true home of the sacred stone.
