The word, Unicorn, literally means "one-horned", and comes from two Latin words, unus, "one", and cornu, "horn".Through the centuries there has been a lot of speculation around the Unicorn and its existence. Some see the Unicorn as a myth, while others believe that not only did this magnificent creature roam the Earth in times past, but still does today.For an animal that supposedly never existed, the Unicorn has been represented in art and stories, not only here in the United States, but in European civilizations, China, Japan, India, Egypt, Africa and is also mentioned in the Bible.

 

The Greek historian, Ctesia, was one of the first to write about a one horned creature on his return from Persia. He describes his Unicorn as being about the same size as a horse, with a white body, a red head, bluish eyes. He described the horn to be white at the lower end, black in the middle and red at the tip. The Unicorn is also mentioned in the writings of Aristotle (384 - 322 B.C.), and later by Pliny the Elder (c23-79) who described his unicorn as having a stag's head, a hoof like an elephant, a boar's tail and a horse's body with it's single horn being solid black. Later Aelian (c170-235) would continue the legend adding that the horn, still depicted as black, had natural rings around it.

 

Europe's legend of the Unicorn probably came from Greek mythology. One of these stories tells of a time when the Greek God, Zeus, became very ill and was nursed back to health by a she-goat named Amalthea. In the tale, Zeus broke off one of Amalthea's horns and out spilled an unlimited amount of food. This later became known as the 'Horn of Plenty". Julius Ceasar mentions the Unicorn in his writings, saying "It looked like a deer with a single horn, long and straight, on the middle of its foreheadn right between its ears." Bestiaries describing animals both real and imagined came into existence and soon these illustrated texts gave way to an onslaught of art depicting men and women, dragons and unicorns, all existing side by side.

 

Unlike today, where some believe in the Unicorn's existence and some do not, in midieval times, everyone believed in them. It was not mythical or legendary, it simply was, Tales of its magical power to neutralize poison with the touch of its horn made the Unicorn a much sought after prey. Up to 40 pieces of gold were offered for a genuine Unicorn horn. Besides its healing power, the Unicorn was a symbol for purity and honesty. In Christianity it was the symbol of virginity. According to legend the Unicorn could only be captured by a virgin, and during this time many a young maiden was used as bait to try to lure the Unicorn to the hunters waiting in the brush to take its life and steal its precious horn.

 

The Unicorn was also known in China where it was called Ch'-i'lin ( K'i-lin if female). It was known as the King of the Animal Kingdom andf revered for its strength and wisdom. Their Unicorn was described as having a musical voice (like the sound of bells) and skin like multi-colored beams of light. They were known to be compassionate beings with a great love of peace. One legend says that a K'i-lin appeared to a young woman and told her she would give birth to a "king without a throne". The woman tried to capture the Unicorn, but it slipped away and disappeared. Months later, the woman gave birth to a son, named Confucious, who would, as you know, grow to be a tremendous influence for centuries to come.

 

In Egypt, the most famous depiction of the Unicorn was in the writings about Alexander the Great. They tell of a great Unicorn which was given to the monarch by the Queen of Egypt. Riding this Unicorn, Alexander the Great would become one of the greatest conquerors in history. It's said that when the Unicorn finally died, Alexander erected an entire city in its honor. It's also said, that only months afterward, Alexander himself would die and his empire would crumble.

 

Although not much is written about the Unicorn in Africa, its existence does appear in that country's history also. Herodotus (3rd century BC) wrote about the Unicorn, calling it the 'horned ass' of Africa. And in Japan, the Unicorn is called Kirin. It was written that he was the protector of justice and would sometimes appear in the courts, freeing the innocent and killing the guilty.

 

There are numerous quotes from the Bible mentioning the Unicorn, but one place where it is noticeably absent is in the tale of Noah. Where was the Unicorn when Noah built his ark? Why wasn't it mentioned in the Bible among the animals taken on board. Some people say you can see the Unicorn there on the Ark in some of the old pictures. Some say that the unicorn was the guardian of the Tree Of Life and wasn't allowed to leave the Tree unguarded. Some years back, the Irish Rovers had their own explanation for their absence on the Ark. Follow the link to hear their story........

 

 

Are Unicorns real? Are they just myth and fantasy? That seems unlikely considering how many differing countries and cultures describe this creature so similarly. Are they just stories that grew from accounts told by hunters who saw the Rhinocerous in Africa or fishermen who saw the Narwhale? I'll leave you to answer that question for yourself. For me, the Unicorn is alive and well and living peacefully away from the hard hearts of the civilized world. They, like the fae can only be seen by the pure of heart, so if you're looking for evidence of their existence, look first within yourself. When the heart is ready, perhaps you'll look out and find proof that they are indeed real. Or perhaps you won't need any proof at all.