The legend of the unicorn dates
back to at least the 5th century B.C., when Herodotus wrote of an
African
"horned ass." Greek historian Ctesias described it as the "wild
ass of
The unicorn was typically reported to be about the size of a horse, with a horse's head, the legs of a deer, tail of a lion and beard of a goat. Ctesias described its single horn as about a cubit in length, white at the base, black in the middle and red at its tip. The creature had blue eyes and a red head—otherwise it was purest white.
Its legend has always centered around its invulnerability and resistance to capture. Its single horn and the nail of its foot were reputed to be so sharp as to be able slay an elephant. The only way to capture this fantastic creature was through its only weakness—the sight of a young virgin. Her purity would cause the beast to lose all fierceness. It would docilely approach her and lay its head quietly in her lap. Hunters could then easily capture and kill it.
In the Middle Ages, however, the unicorn acquired new significance. According to Le Bestiaire Divin de Guillaume, Clerc de Normandie (13th century, A.D.), the unicorn came to symbolize Jesus Christ, who submitted himself to become man through the Virgin's womb, was betrayed and delivered unto death (thus, taken by hunters of blood). The unicorn's single horn was then said to represent the Gospel of Truth and doctrine that Christ is one with God.
The unicorn (from Scottish heraldry) now appears on the royal arm of Great Britain, courtesy of James I, who replaced the red dragon of Wales, introduced by King Henry VII...particularly interesting imagery, when you consider the traditional symbolism of the dragon (cf. Rev. 12:1-9, 13:4, 20:2).
Acknowledgments: 3, 4, 17, 19, 20
© Russ Brown, 1998