It is probably one of the most famous myths in Scotland - that the man who presided over the trial of Jesus was born in Perthshire.
This Easter weekend, the name of Pontius Pilate will be referenced in churches and beyond up and down the country.
But sadly, the legend is likely to be false, with most scholars insisting Pilate was a Roman citizen, born in Italy.
The story that has become folklore suggests Pilate was born - and is, indeed, buried - near Fortingall in Highland Perthshire.
It has been claimed his father was sent north as part of a Roman delegation to negotiate with the Pictish leader, Metallanus.
While in Scotland, Pilate’s father married a local woman who bore him a child - Pontius Pilate.
Dr Paul S Philippou is an honorary research fellow in history at the University of Dundee and has author of several books about Perth and Perthshire.
He said: “There is an earthwork camp west of nearby Balnacraig Farm that could have been that of Metallanus.
“The name Pontius may have been given because of soldiering in the Pontius (Black Sea) region, whilst Pilate could stem either from pilatus meaning javelin or pileus, the felt cap employed by freed-men.
“This latter root has given rise to another of the Pilate Fortingall legends: in this one he is taken back as a Pictish slave to Rome, earns his freedom and gets his name.
“The legend of Pilate at Fortingall is embellished even more by the suggestion that he was born under the yew tree still to be found in Fortingall. This evergreen tree is probably the oldest living thing in Europe at some 3000 years and at its peak in the 18th century a girth of 17 metres.
“It still exists although it has been extensively damaged in recent years and can be seen in the churchyard at Fortingall.”
Much of the Pilate legend came from the works of Raphael Holinshed, a 16th chronicler whose ‘Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland’ makes the claim.
The myth was further embellished with the discovery of a stone bearing the inscription “P.P.” around a century ago.
But Dr Philippou is sceptical about any truth in the story.
He said: “Unfortunately for the legend, even though the Romans invaded England about 55BC, the earliest evidence for them being near Fortingall is Gnaeus Julius Agricola’s military campaign of AD86 in which the Caledonians were defeated at the battle of Mons Graupius.
“Roman presence in Fortingall may not have been until AD 209 when the Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus in order to quell a rebellion, invaded beyond the Forth and Clyde.
“This may not mean the end of the legend. It is known that around 10BC Caesar Augustus did send out negotiators to form agreements with peoples outside the Roman Empire.
“One such delegation visited the territory controlled by Cunobelinus in southern England.
“Although the timing of this event supports the legend, there is still no evidence to suggest a delegation going so far north or even a credible rationale for doing so.”
Several places around Europe claim to be his birthplace, including Bisenti in Italy, Tarragona in Spain and Forchheim and Germany.
He was governor of Judea at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, although according to the Bible, he himself did not think him guilty of the crimes Christ had been accused of.
He was eventually recalled to Rome after brutally suppressing a group looking for ancient artefacts.
There is debate over his fate after his return, with suggestions ranging from suicide, simply retiring and being put to death.
