All you need on Unicorns
The unicorn is a legendary animal usually thought of as a horse with a
horn protruding from its forehead. It is also described as having the tail of
a lion, the beard of a goat, and the hind legs of an antelope.
The unicorn represented chastity and purity. It would fight fiercely when
captured or cornered, but it could be tamed by a virgin's touch.
The basic method for catching a unicorn is pretty simple. A pure young
woman is taken into the woods and placed beneath a tree. Since unicorns
are irresistibly attracted to such young ladies, if there is a unicorn in the
area it will come and lay its head in the maiden's lap. At this point she may
sing to it, or slip a golden bridle over its head. Once the unicorn has been
tamed in this manner, hunters leap out from the woods and either capture
or slaughter the unicorn. The greatest prize of this beast is, of course, the
horn. Some people also believe that there is a carbuncle (precious jewel)
hidden underneath the horn.
The unicorn's horn (called "alicorn") was fabled as pure in the Middle
Ages. For this reason, it was a popular ingredient for medicines and cures.
Popes and kings prized it because it provided protection against all evil,
including epilepsy, pestilence, and poisoning. An item so valuable and rare
was a great temptation for frauds.
The modern image of the unicorn has changed from a goat-like creature
to one of equine beauty. Unicorns may have wings like Pegasus. They
can be any color, from snow white to the darkest night.
In Medieval Europe, the unicorn attained its greatest fame. This is also
where the unicorn picked up the physical characteristics we see most
commonly today. The Eureopean unicorn was in the form of a white
steed with a flowing white mane and a tuft of white hair on its chin. Other
than that, it was very much like an ordinary horse,except for having white
hooves and a spiraling horn protruding from its majestic head.
