The mysteries that gave birth to the world’s newest micronation

When Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the swashbuckling literary classic Treasure Island, it is said, he drew inspiration from visits he paid as a child to the island of Fidra, one of a string of three rocky outcrops in the Firth of Forth off Scotland's North Berwick coast.

The young Stevenson was unaware of the myths, legends and mysteries reputedly harboured by another island, just over a mile (1.9km) to the east. Known as Lamb, it has attracted scant attention save from kayakers, occasional birdwatchers and wildlife volunteers. But it could yet turn out to be a real treasure island of its own.

At least, that's the possibility dangled by its colourful, charismatic and controversial owner, the world's most famous spoon bender and legendary "psychic" Uri Geller. Now, 13 years after he bought it, Geller, a master of the grand gesture, has decided to elevate Lamb's status from a private Scottish island to that of a country, with a flag, constitution and anthem.

While Scotland is busy debating its own path to possible independence, the emergence of the football pitch-sized "republic of Lamb" means its comparatively giant neighbour has just, in theory, got a little bit smaller.

"Lamb is a place like no other," says Geller, from his home in Old Jaffa, Israel, "and it deserves its own identity. This is a fitting way to do it."

Lamb Island is not the first so-called micronation - there have been dozens declared dating as far back as the 19th Century, some serious, many not. Some have issued their own stamps, currencies and citizenships (the short-lived Kingdom of Lovely, born out of a TV programme and based in a flat in East London, could arguably claim the title of the most citizens with more than 58,000 who registered online). 

Nisbet pointed to the layout of Lamb and the two islands on either side, which he said mirrors exactly that of the three pyramids. The pyramids' own precise geometric design has long been a source of fascination for mathematicians and Egyptologists.

In fact, Nisbet was not the only person to posit the idea of Scottish links to ancient Egypt. A 15th Century Scottish chronicle, described by the National Library of Scotland as "probably the most important mediaeval account of early Scottish history", says Egypt gave rise to the Scottish nation. It claims that Scotland was actually founded by Princess Scota, the exiled daughter of the pharaoh whose army - in the biblical account - drowned pursuing Moses and the Israelites across the Red Sea.