Pillow talk suggests Stone of Destiny is fake

Madam, – It makes sense for the city of Perth to house the Stone of Destiny because this stone has an interesting history (Battle begins to bring Stone of Destiny to Perth, Courier, August 16).

But what, exactly, is its history?

The Stone of Destiny contains two iron rings.

The iron rings must have been fitted to allow a wooden rod to pass through for the purpose of lifting up and transporting the stone.

The Stone of Destiny was Jacob’s Pillow – a sacred pillow which, in the 13th Century, was used exclusively for the purpose of crowning the Kings of Scots.

Jacob, in The Old Testament, laid his head on a stone to go to sleep.

He dreamed of a ladder to heaven.

The stone was, according to legend, taken from the Middle East to Ireland and then Scotland.

In choosing a stone to rest his head on, how likely is it that Jacob chose one made of rough sandstone and containing iron rings?

Would he not have looked for something more comfortable?

How likely is it iron rings were hammered into this ancient and sacred relic for the purpose of making it easier to transport?

A sacred stone would not be touched!

The stone that we have today is made from locally-quarried sandstone.

Is it not possible that the Scots, knowing that the victorious Edward I was on his way to Scone, hid the original?

Is it not possible that the rings were hammered into another stone for the purpose of transporting it to Scone to be swapped with the original?

Is it not at least possible that King Edward I carried away a fake in 1296?

Euan Macpherson. 1d Lilybank Mews, Dundee.