Unicorns are a sacred creature, and have been around since the beginning of time.
They are regarded as a symbol of purity, and only allow themselves to be touched by a virgin woman. 'We caught the beast called Unicorn/ That knows and loves a maiden best/ and falls asleep upon her breast' - Parzifal by Wolfram von Eschenbach.
Unicorns are suposedly very gentle when handled by a woman, but a man who has gotten rather close may know of their fiery temper and strength -
'The Unicorn is so stronge that he is not taken with myghte of hunters. But men that wryte of kynde thinges meane that a mayde is sette there he shall come: And she openyth up her lap and the Unicorn layeth theron his heed, and levyth all his fyerinesse and slepyth in that wyse...'
The single horn of a unicorn is said to hold the antidote to any poison, 'He was therefore invested by the other creatures as a "water conner", none daring to taste of fountain or pool until he had stirred the water with his horn..." John Vinycomb, Ficticious and Symbolic Creatures in Art.
The blood of a unicorn is also supposed to have intensely magical properties - holding the power to keep one who is on the verge of death alive. However, the moment one tastes the blood he is cursed and leads only a half life, for the unicorn is so sacred, so pure, that it is a most terrible evil to kill one.
The tail hair of a Unicorn is often used as a magical core in wands today, for it provides an excellent source of magical energy without actually harming the beast. |
