The unicorn is one of the very few mythological creatures that are considered useful in almost all traditions. In modern understanding, this is just a mysterious beautiful horse with one horn. The traditional unicorn is a symbol that is presented in a slightly different way: with a goat beard, a lion's tail and cloven hooves.
The story of the unicorn as a symbol
Unicorns take pride of place in Greek mythology, Chinese traditions, in the art of the Indus Valley and India. Greek writers, including Pliny the Elder and Aristotle, mention them in their writings. At least eight references to the unicorn are contained in the Old Testament of the Bible.
In the art of the Middle Ages, a unicorn is a symbol with religious significance. According to legend, a beautiful girl in the image of the Virgin Mary managed to catch this wondrous beast and tame in such a way that the animal trustingly laid its head on her lap.
Here the unicorn is a symbol of rethinking, the embodiment of Christ, and his death was seen as the Passion of Christ. The pagan image of a horse with one horn was highly valued by the church.
Unicorn magic
Unicorn is a symbol of magic. His magical powers are also legendary. Its horn is harder than the most durable diamond, it is able to neutralize poisons. And tears of a unicorn can heal both physical wounds and heart sorrows. Some of them know how to fly and talk with all kinds of other living things. The magical unicorn is a symbol of freedom, healing and beauty. Powerful magic wands had unicorn hair in their core, and his blood could heal a person who was dying.
What does a unicorn mean as a symbol?
The legendary white horse or pony with one horn is a symbol of purity and innocence in European mythology. Only a virgin could catch and tame him. What is the meaning of the symbol?
- Protection. The unicorn is the protector and patron of all the virgins. Its horn has magical powers of healing and has been a popular ingredient in medieval medicines. It was a powerful antidote and protection against evil.
- Virtue. The white unicorn is a symbol of dignity, chastity and purity.
- Love and harmony. Unicorns are associated with the light of the moon, love, harmony and understanding. In medieval Europe, this gentle creature stood in opposition to the lion, which personified a more violent solar influence.
- Another meaning of the symbol is associated with courage, strength, and sometimes cruelty.
Unicorns in Heraldry
The unicorn is also a prominent and significant figure in heraldic symbolism and is represented, as a rule, with a spiral horn of red, black or any other color.
A 15th century unicorn in heraldry is profiled with a lion's tail and a goat's hooves, symbolizing the lifting of the bonds of slavery. This was provoked by the sacred status of a unicorn in medieval times. Having become more refined, he was associated with the attributes of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.
These lonely beings personified the model of monastic life. The connection with the Holy Spirit made them a symbol of mysticism and spiritual values. In Scotland, two unicorns are depicted on the royal coat of arms, the British coat of arms displays a unicorn with a lion.
Faith in Unicorns
Of all the mythical and legendary creatures, from the scaly dragon to the cunning sphinx, the unicorn has always been the most beautiful and most beloved. At the same time ferocious and proud, he was noble and kind. While many magical creatures foreshadowed danger, a unicorn usually brought luck. For many centuries, Europeans believed in its existence, as if it was a real animal that lived in a foreign country, for example, in India, Persia or Abyssinia. It was believed that this was not a magical creature, but simply a model of foreign zoology. Currently, there is hardly a person who believes in their real existence.
Description of Unicorns
Once a fragment of a description of an unknown beast was found, made by Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople (about 810-893 AD). He's writing:
“There are wild donkeys in India , as big as horses, or even more. Their body is white, their head is dark red, their eyes are bluish, and they have a horn in their forehead elbow length. The lower part of the horn, about two palms from the forehead, is completely white, the middle is black, the upper part is fiery red. Those who drink from a cup made from it are resistant to seizures, epilepsy and even poison, provided that before or after taking the poison they drank wine, water or other liquid from these cups. Their ankles are very beautiful. "These animals are very strong and fast, neither the horse nor any other animal can overtake them."
Female symbol
According to legend, a unicorn is a symbol for women. It was believed that only a chaste young virgin with pure thoughts could catch him. Often on ancient canvases and in manuscripts one could see images of these noble animals along with beautiful young virgins.
Unicorn in Canada?
Mostly any mention of unicorns is associated with China, India and Africa, as well as with gullible medieval Europe, which was characterized by faith in fairies, goblins and dragons. What do Canada and the unicorn have in common? Which country’s symbol looks like a horse with one horn on its forehead? It is now located on the arms of England and Scotland, and its legends are also associated with this.
As for North America, disproportionate horned creatures, capable of piercing several other large animals with their horn, really lived here during the time of the dinosaurs. These include the suborder Ceratopsia (centrosaurs). These creatures outwardly resembled giant rhinos, which were incredibly impulsive and cruel and belonged to the Cretaceous period. As you know, more than sixty-three million years separate the last dinosaurs from primitive man. Nevertheless, early fossil finds helped a lot in fueling the idea that big fairy creatures like dragons and unicorns once roamed the earth.
In nature, there are only two animals that have one horn, a rhino and a narwhal. The tusk of the latter can reach 3 meters. It was a truly mythical seahorse with a horn. Inhabited in the Arctic seas, including the northern waters of Canada, the narwhal is present in a number of Canadian arms. Animals, including bulls, deer, lions, griffins, unicorns - strong, fast and often ferocious, are common practice in heraldry.
Unicorn as a national animal
Oddly enough, the unicorn is the official animal of Scotland. A fantastic character may seem like the wrong choice for a national animal country, but that doesn't apply to a state glorifying its love for a long history of myths and legends. Since the 12th century, the unicorn has been a Scottish heraldic symbol, which was present on the early form of the Scottish coat of arms of William I.
The ancient Babylonians worshiped unicorns; their written descriptions were found in the texts of the ancient Persians, Romans, Greeks and ancient Jewish scholars. In Celtic mythology, the unicorn of Scotland symbolized innocence and purity, healing power, joy and even life itself, and was also regarded as a symbol of masculinity and strength. During the reign of King James III (1460-1488), gold coins were introduced depicting a mythical creature with one horn.
Unicorn today
People at all times have been fascinated by all kinds of monsters and mythical creatures. This fabulous character is still incredibly popular and popular today. The image of a unicorn is found in films, literature, children's tales, and comics. In souvenir shops you can buy a variety of figurines, jewelry, trinkets of all kinds and sizes.