The stone of Destiny. Based on the TV series “Outlander”: mystical circles of stones in the Scottish Highlands Stones in a circle in Scotland

On November 30, 1996, in Edinburgh, 10 thousand people welcomed the return of one of the main Scottish artifacts - the Stone of Scone. A procession of clergy and soldiers accompanying the stone passed through the streets of the city. This stone was placed next to the Scottish royal regalia in Edinburgh Castle. This review contains the fascinating history of the stone that was greeted with such honors.

It may seem strange to some, but this unremarkable block of carved sandstone is one of the most significant historical artifacts. It is known by many names: the Stone of Scone, the Coronation Stone, Jacob's Stone Cushion and by its Celtic name “Lia Fail” (talking stone). For many centuries, this block of sandstone was used for the coronation of the rulers of Scotland, and later kings and queens throughout the United Kingdom.

It is interesting that each name has its own history of the origin of this stone. Which version to believe is everyone’s choice.

According to one of the most popular legends, the Stone of Destiny is associated with Fergus, son of Loarn mac Erc - the first king of the Scots in Scotland. He brought the stone from Ireland to Dal Riada (the area today called Argyll), where he was crowned king. Some historians suggest that this stone, brought by Fergus, is associated with the Lia Fail, the sacred stone on which the High Kings of Ireland were crowned.

Another legend connects the origin of the Stone of Destiny to biblical times. According to this theory, it was this stone that Jacob placed as a pillow under his head. The Jewish chronicles say that later this very stone became the pedestal on which the Ark of the Covenant was installed in the temple. It was then taken from Syria and brought to Egypt by King Gatelus. One of Gatelus' descendants took the stone to Ireland and was crowned there. And finally, the Scots transported him to Argyll.

In 841 AD. King Kenneth I of the Scots transported the Stone of Destiny to Scone, where the relic remained until the time of King Edward I (known as the “Hammer of the Scots”), who took the stone from the Scots as a war trophy. came and took her by force. Today, a replica of the Scone Stone can be seen outside the 19th-century Presbyterian Chapel on Muth Hill. After King Edward's army invaded and conquered Scotland in 1296, the stone was taken to Westminster Abbey.

In 1301, the Stone of Destiny (Stone of Scone) was built into a wooden throne which became known as “King Edward's Chair”.

The throne was first used at the coronation of Edward II, and subsequently every English king or queen was crowned in the “King Edward's Chair”, under which was the Scone Stone.

Although there is some historical evidence to support this story, its authenticity is partially disputed. Some historians believe that when King Edward I came to take the stone with him, the monks of Scone Abbey hid it and replaced it with a fake. Whatever the truth, one thing is certain: geological examination of the stone has proven that the stone that was brought to Westminster Abbey is red sandstone, which was probably quarried somewhere near Scone.

The story of the Stone of Destiny does not end here. The relic was stolen again at Christmas in 1950, when four Scottish students decided to steal the stone from Westminster Abbey and bring it back to Scotland. When they tried to remove the stone from the coronation throne, it broke into two pieces. In the end, they managed to take these pieces to Glasgow. There they were helped by professional mason Robert Gray, who managed to glue the fragments together. On April 11, 1951, the stone was placed on the altar of Arbroath Abbey, but soon police in London learned of the whereabouts of the stolen relic and took it back to Westminster.

Relatively recently, the British government decided that it would be better to return the stone to Scotland and borrow it only for the coronation of future monarchs. So, after 700 years in England, the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland. On November 30, 1996, his triumphant return was greeted by 10,000 people who gathered on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Even taking into account all the formalities and facts, the question is still open as to whether this is the real Stone of Destiny, an ancient sacred relic that, according to legend, could magically make a sound when the true king stood on it. In any case, the Stone of Scone is now on display in Edinburgh Castle, where it can be seen.

And to continue the topic, a story about another Scottish artifact - about the kilt:.

Callanish is formed by thirteen vertically standing monuments or groups of stones that form circles up to thirteen meters in diameter. The average height of the stones is 4 meters, but can vary between 1-5 meters. The stones are cut from local gneiss. By popularity Callanish stones can rival Stonehenge.

The interpretation of this ancient construction is still controversial, but most likely we are dealing with a giant lunar calendar. The moon passes through the southernmost point of the sky once every eighteen and a half years, and if you observe it from this place, you may get the impression that it is moving parallel to the horizon, almost touching the earth. That is why Callanish is closely connected with the surrounding landscape - stones as if they were growing out of the ground on their own.

Quartz veins in stones They are well warmed up by the sun and then emit soft energy and warmth. The stones that stand outside the circle are laid out in a shape similar to Celtic cross, and its ends point to the cardinal directions. It is difficult to determine exactly what rituals were performed here in Callanish, but the area continues to attract tourists from all over the world.

In the Bronze Age, according to scientists, the sanctuary, which was located in this area, was plundered and sown with grain. From about 800 BC. Callanish gradually turned into a peat bog, which by the mid-19th century covered the stones with an almost one and a half meter layer of peat.

The territory of Scotland is completely dotted with ancient stone circles. These stones are rightfully considered one of the most ancient archaeological mysteries. Countless theories have been put forward to explain their origins. We will tell you about one interesting version.

Megaliths in Scotland appeared with the beginning of the Neolithic era

These ancient stone circles come in a variety of shapes, but most often stand in an upright position. Probably, once their shape was different, but strong winds and time cut off the sharp corners. The most ancient megaliths have their own names. They can easily be counted among Scottish attractions. One of them is Stenness, located on the Orkney Islands, and the other, Callanish, is located on the Isle of Lewis. In ordinary Scottish settlements there are still many such attractions, although they are smaller in size.

Some stones weigh up to 10 tons

What did the people who inhabited this area several thousand years ago try to build? The mystery of archeology can be solved by a group of modern scientists who have studied in detail the occupations of people in the Neolithic era. Some stones are so gigantic that transporting them from place to place could be fraught with enormous difficulties. But five thousand years ago people entered the Neolithic, or Stone Age.

The nomadic lifestyle gave way to a sedentary one

Communities could already afford a sedentary lifestyle, as well as the use of stone tools and the development of agricultural land. These changes brought new traditions. For example, now it was necessary to think about how to bury the dead and how to preserve the memory of those who had passed on to another world. Thus, with the beginning of the Neolithic era, tombs, tombs, pyramids and other places for commemorating the dead began to appear everywhere. Historians are confident that in Scotland this function was performed by megaliths. However, why are they all so gigantic and bizarre?

Astronomical background

Five thousand years ago, people were already seriously interested in astronomy. Observing the location of the Sun, Moon and other celestial bodies helped to navigate when traveling. The hypothesis that stone memorials were built taking into account the knowledge of ancient people about astronomy is not new. Just look at the correctly calibrated geometric drawings, if you look at the structures from a bird's eye view. And it doesn’t matter at all that the boulders themselves had different shapes; the distance between them was maintained with precise accuracy. Scientists have also found an explanation for the gigantic size of the tall boulders. Having climbed to the top, people had the opportunity to use an excellent observation deck, or, as we would say now, an observatory.

When points of view coincide

It is worth noting that the idea of ​​​​building megaliths for observing the stars is not new. This hypothesis was put forward by Alexander Tom after 30 years of painstaking research. The scientist introduced the results of his work to the public in 1955. For more than half a century, the scientific community was rather lukewarm about this theory. And only in 2016 did Alexander Tom find followers.

A clear relationship was found

A clear relationship has been found between the construction of stone slabs and astronomical events. It is striking that the horizon line visible through these structures had only two different outlines. The Sun and Moon in this relief are located in a strictly designated place. This means that the area for placing the boulders was chosen taking into account the extreme points of sunrise and sunset of these celestial bodies. Probably, the tradition of erecting megaliths in this way goes back to the famous Stenness and Callanish. In this way, people could designate an area that could perfectly represent the perception of the universe.

New controversies

Opponents of this hypothesis insist that we cannot attribute to our ancestors modern human knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. There is no documentary evidence that five thousand years ago people were as advanced in the exact sciences. This means that everything again comes down to the ritual nature of the construction of stone boulders. It seems that debate about the purpose of megaliths is heating up with renewed vigor.

In addition to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the unique Highland environment, Scotland is made up of around 800 islands. Most of them are small coastal areas of land that become islands during certain phases of the tides, but there are also quite impressive areas covered on all sides by sea waters. Each of Scotland's islands represents a unique little world in northern Europe. But from the point of view of the history of megalithic civilizations, in this region it is worth paying attention toMainland.

It is the largest of the Shetland Islands. It is connected by bridges to the small, narrow islands of Trond, West Burra and East Burra. The Shetland Islands have been inhabited since time immemorial. This island is home to one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites - a group of Neolithic monuments called The Heart of Neolithic Orkney (literally, “Heart of the Neolithic”). Their age is about 4-5 thousand years.

Lerwick is the administrative center of the Shetland Islands, a thriving city located in a sheltered natural harbour. In the former capital, Skelloway, 10 km from Lerwick, there is Skelloway Castle, built in 1600. And in the western part of the island you can find the Neolithic monuments of Orkney, prehistoric ruins including a dolmen chamber and a well-preserved Neolithic settlement.

Megaliths of Stennes Standing Stones of Stenness is a Neolithic cromlech on Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago, Scotland.

Located on the southwestern headland between Loch of Stennes and Loch of Harray. The monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of four in the Neolithic Monuments of Orkney site.

Midhowe - a large tomb (chamber cairn type) of the Neolithic era, located on the southern coast of Rousey Island in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. The name Midhow comes from the large Bronze Age broch to the west of the tomb. Together, the tomb and broch form part of a large complex of ancient structures on the shores of Eynhallow Sound, separating Rousey from Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands.

1.2 km to the north-west is the Circle of Brodgar, slightly to the east are the monuments of Midhow and Barnhouse, 3 km to the west is the Tomb of Ansten, and 10 km to the north-west is Skara Brae.

Barnhouse Settlement ) is a recently discovered Neolithic settlement on the shores of Loch of Harray on the island of Mainland in the Orkney archipelago, not far from the megaliths of Stennes. The foundations of at least 15 different houses have been found here. The houses are similar in design to Skara Brae - they also have a central stove, beds against the walls and stone storage cupboards - but differ in that the houses stand alone rather than in clusters. Grooved pottery similar to that found at the Stennes and Skara Brae megaliths was also found here, as well as flint and other stone objects and one obsidian tool, presumably from the Isle of Arran. The largest of the buildings had a square room, the side length of which was 7 m, and the walls were about 3 m thick. The entrance to the building was directed to the north-west, so in mid-summer the sun shone through it, which is reminiscent of the design of some chamber cairns .

Dwarfie Stane - lit. “dwarf stone” in the Scottish dialect of English is a megalithic burial ground at the turn of the 2nd-3rd millennium BC. BC, carved from a giant single block of red limestone. Located in a glacial valley on the island of Hoy in the Orkney archipelago in Scotland. Originally, a stone slab blocked the entrance to the grave on the west side, but currently it lies on the ground in front of the burial ground. The burial ground consists of an entrance corridor with a chamber located in the northern and southern walls. The monument is unique for northern Europe, but has analogues among Neolithic or Bronze Age graves in the Mediterranean.

Ansten (Onsten, Onston), English.Unstan (Onstan, Onston) is a Neolithic cairn tomb on the Isle of Mainland in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Built on a headland jutting out into the Loch of Stennes near the settlement of Howe, northwest of Stromness. By design, Ansten is an unusual hybrid of two types of chamber cairns. In addition, Ansten ceramics were discovered for the first time in Ansten.Judging by finds from nearby burials, both they and Ansten were built between 3400 and 2800 BC. BC e. Human remains were discovered at Anstaing - two skeletons in a crouched position in a side chamber, several more in the main chamber, and several bones lying in disarray throughout the tomb. In addition, animal bones and coal were discovered. Ansten probably continued to be used in the 2nd millennium BC. e. The arrowhead found in the tomb has a shape characteristic of the Bell Beaker culture, which existed during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

Stennes -

The name Stennes comes from the Old Norse language and means “stone boundary (field)”. The Watch Stone is located outside the circle, next to the modern bridge leading to the Circle of Brodgar. The stones are thin slabs about 300 mm thick. Four of them, up to 5 meters high, were originally elements of an elliptical cromlech of 12 stones with a diameter of about 32 meters, built on a flat area with a diameter of 44 meters, surrounded by a ditch. The ditch goes deep into the rocky soil to a depth of 2 meters, its width is 7 meters, it was surrounded by an earthen embankment with one passage on the north side. The entrance faces the Neolithic settlement of Barnhouse, discovered near the Loch of Harray.

The Watch Stone is located outside the circle, to the northwest. Its height is 5.6 meters. Other smaller stones include a square stone structure in the center of a circular platform where cremated bone remains, charcoal and pottery were discovered, and animal bones were found in the surrounding ditch. The pottery discovered here bears similarities to pottery found at Skara Brae and Midhow, so the Stennes megaliths date back to at least 3000 BC. e.

Circle of Brodgar or Brogar (English)Ring of Brodgar , Brogar) is a Neolithic cromlech on Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago, Scotland. Situated on a narrow isthmus between Loch of Stennes and Loch of Harray, sometimes called the "Bridge of Brodgar". The monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of four in the Neolithic Monuments of Orkney site. 1.2 kilometers south-east of the Circle of Brodgar are the Stennes Megaliths, Midhow and Barnhouse monuments, while Skara Brae is 10 kilometers to the north-west. It was probably built between 2500 and 2000 BC. e., but the exact age of this large-scale megalithic structure is unknown, since it has not yet been studied by archaeologists. Previously, there were 60 megaliths around the site with a diameter of 104 m. Only 27 of them have survived to this day. The Circle of Brodgar is the third largest cromlech in the British Isles.

Skara Brae is a large and well-preserved Neolithic settlement discovered at the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. Consists of 8 houses, united in blocks, which were inhabited in the period approximately 3100-2500. BC e.

Knap of Howar are exceptionally well-preserved Neolithic buildings on the island of Papa Westray in the Orkney archipelago in northern Scotland. They are considered one of the most ancient examples of stone houses preserved to this day in northern Europe. According to radiocarbon dating, they were used in the period 3500 - 3100 BC. e.

Carlin stone Witch stone

Clach an Truiseil

Easter Aquhorthies

Lewis and Harris is one of the largest British Isles, after Great Britain and Ireland. It regularly finds itself in the top or even first place in various rankings of the best islands in Europe. Here you will find the most picturesque landscapes and the spirit of true Scottish culture.

In Lewis, the northern part of the island, tourists admire the legendary stones of Callanish (Callenish), which is commonly called the “Scottish Stonehenge”.

The Isle of Lewis is a fairly desolate place about 130 km north of the Isle of Barra. Callenish consists of a ring containing 13 stones, with one central stone, an alley and other stones arranged in an orderly manner. It has been suggested that the direction of the alley coincides with the direction of the rising point of the Capella and that 4 stones to the east of the alley point to the rising point of the Pleiades. But in fact, a star rising above the horizon at sea level, even under the most favorable atmospheric conditions, appears to be about 6 orders of magnitude fainter than it actually is. And the Capella glows very faintly at sunrise (it is hard to see), and the Pleiades are not visible at all to the naked eye. In addition, it was believed that one of the directions could be associated with the Moon. If this is true, then Callanish is the first structure on the list of megalithic sites that could have been used in the same way as Stonehenge.

A little later, using a rectangular grid, measurements were made of the position of all the Callanish stones. Then calculations were made of the azimuths of all lines connecting these stones in pairs. In Callenish, 10 directions were found associated with the extreme positions of the Sun and Moon at sunrise and sunset.

Moreover, as can be seen from the plan, they are the main ones in the entire structure. The latitude at which Callenish is located is of independent interest.

It almost coincides with the “Northern Arctic Circle” for the Moon, i.e. with the latitude at which the Moon does not rise above the southern horizon at its southernmost declination. The megalithic structure is located 1.3° south of the critical latitude, and every 18 or 19 years at the summer solstice, the full Moon stands 1° above the southern horizon. The row of stones (from the 24th to the 28th) indicates the points of rising, culmination and setting of the Moon on the days when it is lowest above the horizon. On the day of the winter solstice, the Moon falls behind the top of Mount Clishema (the highest mountain of the Harris Peninsula) and the axis of the alley points to it. It is quite possible that the coincidence of the moon's setting point and the top of the mountain was of great importance for the construction of Callanish.

Of greatest interest to scientists is the eastern triangle with the apex formed by stones 30, 33 and 35. If viewed from point 35, fluctuations in the declination of the winter Moon from +18.7° to +29° are indicated by stones from 30 to 33. On average, the winter Moon spends three years in each of the spaces between these stones. Stone 35 together with the second stone represent three different lunar directions.

In general, most stones mark two lunar or solar directions. Therefore, a theory was put forward that the location of the stones in Kallenish coincides with astronomical directions for a reason. The height error when installing stones is only 0.5°. This accuracy is much higher than at Stonehenge, but this is mainly due to the higher latitude.

The most mysterious thing is how the Stone Age Britons used Callenish. Most likely, it was used as a calendar, although it is possible that eclipses could be predicted with its help. Upon closer acquaintance with Callenish, it turned out that it can be used as a machine for counting days. In this, the structure has a lot in common with Stonehenge - openaxiom.ru. Due to the fact that the stone ring at Callanish does not determine any solar or lunar directions, we can conclude that it plays the same role as the Aubrey holes and the sarsen ring of Stonehenge. The Callenish ring contains 13 stones (12 large and 1 small). These numbers are the basis of the lunisolar calendar and could be used to count the so-called short years, containing 12 lunar months, and long years, consisting of 13 lunar months. A similar system is still used in the Jewish calendar.

The priests of Callenish were able to observe and predict eclipses, although the evidence for this is not as strong as for Stonehenge. The rising of the winter moon over stone 34 would clearly indicate that an eclipse was coming. Lines indicating the directions to the points of sunrise and moonset during the equinoxes also indicate interest in winter and summer eclipses. When the Sun rose in the direction from stone 20 to stone 23, and the Moon set in the direction from stone 30 to stone 33, an eclipse could occur at the summer or winter solstice. Thus, the priests of Callenish were able to predict eclipses from observations they made at different times throughout the year.

However, predicting all lunar eclipses at a given time of year would require a 56-year observation cycle consisting of intervals of 19, 19 and 18 years. The priests could well make such observations if they excluded stone 34 when walking around every third circle, measured relative to the main direction. It is possible that the priests of Callanish knew the 56-year cycle, but they did not openly show their knowledge, as did the builders of Stonehenge, who erected a ring with 56 marked positions. Although Callenish also has an astronomical direction of lines, its use as a computing machine is just an assumption. But excavations at Callenish have not yet been completed and there is no certainty that only 19 stones were installed in the alley and that the ring consisted of 13. All of the above indicates that when creating Callenish, its builders were as precise as the authors of Stonehenge, but they clearly lacked scientific knowledge.