WHAT IS A UNICORN?

Unicorn, a legendary animal usually depicted as a large horse with a single horn on its forehead. It has also been described as having the hind legs of an antelope, the tail of a lion, and the beard of a goat. Represented in the arts of numerous ancient and medieval Asian and European cultures, the unicorn may have been created from distorted reports of rhinoceroses. Ctesias, a Greek physician, about 400 wrote a classic description of the unicorn, calling it an Indian wild ass with a white body, purple head, and a straight "cubit-long" horn with a white base, black middle, and red tip. He described it as fleet and fierce. The unicorn is also mentioned in the writings of Aristotle, Pliny, and Aelian.

In medieval times the unicorn was endowed with symbolic qualities, both religious and secular. Some early translations of the Hebrew scriptures mentioned the unicorn  and as a biblical beast it acquired ecclesiastical associations. It represented chastity and purity. Though it would fight savagely when cornered, it could be tamed by a virgin's touch. Many examples of medieval art including woodcuts, illuminations, and tapestries depict the unicorn, particularly the hunt for it. In some Christian interpretations the unicorn is associated with the Virgin Mary; in others it represents Christ the Redeemer. Unicorns were also popular emblems in medieval heraldry.

During the Middle Ages, and even later, the unicorn's horn, because of its fabled purity, was a popular ingredient for medicines and for alchemical reactions. Potentates and pontiffs obtained reputed unicorn's horn because it was considered strong protection against poison. The horn was also believed to ward off stomach trouble and epilepsy.

Whether a unicorn is real or make-believe doesn't matter. What does matter, is they way we perceive the unicorn and what we believe it to be in our hearts. To many of us, the unicorn is a creature that we aspire to be. We desire to experience the magic, the nobility, the purity, and the beauty that is the unicorn. So, it doesn't exist in our so-called real world or so we are told, we can still admire it and aspire to be it. There are a lot worse things that we can hold up as role models. Anyway, here is my meager tribute to the unicorn, a few of my stories and poems, and some other fun stuff to see. Have fun!

Sources: Webster Illustrated Contemporary Dictionary, The Grolier Encyclopedia, and The Encyclopedia Americana.

Unicorn Gallery

Send A Unicorn Digital Postcard

Check out this unicorn video.  I didn't that Subway had an amateur video page, did you?
UNICORNS

Please check out the Unicorn Poems and Songs page. 
The first serial story has been added.

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People ask me how they can purchase some of the pictures in my Gallery.   I don't own or sell them.  You can use the search box below to search for unicorn posters at allwall.com.  Some of the artists also have their own sites, like Sue Dawes , Richard Fields and Jeff Bucchino.
I'll post links for other artists as I find them.

Sue Dawe

    

Richard Fields

Unicorn with an Attitude

Michelle Perry - click on picture to see larger work and click on Michelle's name to go to her website to see her other wonderful art. To see other work by Echo Chernk, click here.

My inner child is ten years old!

The adult world is pretty irrelevant to me. Whether
I'm off on my bicycle (or pony) exploring, lost
in a good book, or giggling with my best
friend, I live in a world apart, one full of
adventure and wonder and other stuff adults
don't understand.

How Old is Your Inner Child?
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Your Source for your Wall Search:

Has some unicorn arts and crafts for the kiddies, like this paint by number set below.