Friday, May 15, 2009


Picture Day Friday


Sconce Stone of Destiny© Historic Scotland

This is not a mere hunk of rock. In medieval times, many scholars believed it had biblical origins. Some thought it was the pillow on which Jacob dreamed of his ladder. Others believed it had been taken out of Egypt by the daughter of a pharaoh.

It has been used in coronation ceremonies of the kings of Scotland at Scone, near Perth since Lulach sat on it to be proclaimed king in 1057.

The English stole it in 1296. For the next 700 years, it was used to crown English kings and queens at Westminster Abbey. The stone was returned to Scotland in 1996 by QE II with the condition that it travel to Westminster for the next coronation (or it crumbles to dust, whichever happens first).

4 comments:

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, cool, pic, KS!

Keira Soleore said...

So the Scottish picture got your attention, eh? Did you get to see it when you were in Edinburgh.

Anna Campbell said...

Actually I saw it when it was still in Westminster Abbey. Being so old, I was at Edward III's coronation ;-)

Keira Soleore said...

I doubt the stone'll live long enough to see the coronoation of the next royal of Britain.