What does a unicorn mean in feng shui. Unicorn in Feng Shui: activation and meaning of the symbol

Hello.
Today I want to talk about the unicorn symbol. For me personally, this symbol entered the symbolism of my dreams, and became something dear, close and familiar...

Unicorn. The unicorn is a mythical creature that contained a female source of energy, and on the other hand, represented a symbolic complete victory of male energy and strength over female energy. It was an attribute and symbol of all the knights of Europe and Asia, who idolized and worshiped the female basis of the universe.

The unicorn was depicted as a white horse with a white or red mane, sky-blue eyes and a horn in the middle of the forehead. You can often find very old images of a unicorn in a completely different form from how we are used to presenting it now. In ancient times he was depicted as a boar, donkey, rhinoceros with a horn in the center of his forehead.

The sacred scriptures of the Vedas say that the unicorn embodied the bright, brave masculine principle. And a single unicorn horn could have many interesting purposes: evidence of high intelligence, a symbol of masculinity, sun rays and the power of the Sun.

The unicorn itself, as a feminine force, is considered a symbol and standard of innocence, holiness and purity. Is a symbol of pure strength. In China, a wise ruler with many virtues was equated with a unicorn.

The unicorn was considered a wild and crazy beast, which, according to legend, could only be tamed by a virgin. He smelled a virgin, sank down next to her, laid his head on his knees and fell asleep, feeling purity and innocence next to her.

In Slavic beliefs the unicorn is called Indrik Beast. It was believed that the unicorn could, if necessary, turn into a white dove and disappear.

In Christianity, the unicorn was included in emblems, symbolically depicting the sword and the word of God. Very often the unicorn was credited with resemblance to Christ. But I think there is something different here. How to assume, for example, that a unicorn in the form of a white dove could appear to Mary before the birth of a child. Before the birth of the King of the Jews and the great prophet and sage. This assumption, coupled with the probable werewolf nature of this beast, is much closer to me than equating Christ with a unicorn. This even proves that the unicorn is one of the attributes of the image of the Mother of God, as if depicting the very idea of the immaculate conception and innocence of Mary.

In heraldic symbolism, the unicorn is considered a lunar sign that balances the solar energy of the lion.

It is believed that the first place where a unicorn was seen was India. Later, he was allegedly seen in Tibet, Babylon and Greece.

In the ideas of Ancient Babylon, in addition to the horn, the unicorn also had wings. Archaeological scientists found a cylindrical amulet that was made in Babylon in 1800 BC. On both opposite sides of the amulet were depicted two unicorns, which meant the two sides of the Tree of Life.

In the ideas of ancient China, the unicorn had the name qilin, where qi is the flow of male guiding energy, and lin is the yin female component. Thus the unicorn was a bipolar creature that was androgynous, having both feminine and masculine energy. Qilin was the embodied image of creative energy. It was considered a harbinger of happiness, but it was impossible to see it, since it was a cautious creature. It was believed that if someone saw a qilin, there would be a change of power in the country, and a new wise and noble ruler would be chosen. Also, the unicorn was a harbinger of the birth and death of a new sage or wise emperor. The unicorn was seen when Confucius himself was born and died.

In Tibetan beliefs, the unicorn was depicted as a doe. It was believed that it served as a kind of bridge for the transition from Earth to Heaven. It was a symbol of the personification of awakened consciousness, integrity and completeness of being, a complete feeling of peace and inner peace. It is considered a bright teacher and guide of wisdom for a person, dispels darkness, helping to find the right path in life.

Indian texts indicate that the unicorn was a symbol of the completeness of spiritual knowledge, experience, accumulated wisdom and spiritual wealth. It represents one single whole beginning.

In Persian legends, the unicorn acted as a symbol of the fertilizing masculine principle, the ability to resist poisons and self-healing. It was believed that unicorn horn, if crushed into powder, could become an excellent universal antidote to all types of poisons and poisonings, cure damage and was considered a powerful drug for increasing potency and male sexual power.

According to the writings of the Torah, Yahweh asked the first people he created to give names to all animals, the first to receive the name unicorn for which he became a revered important beast, which made him, on a par with the lion, the king of beasts. When God expelled Adam and Eve from paradise, the unicorn, as the most intelligent creature after man, was offered two options: either follow people or stay in paradise. The unicorn chose the first, and then he was blessed to help and support people.

We may believe that the unicorn is a mythical beast or that it no longer exists due to the extinction of the species, such as some rare endangered animal species or the saber-toothed tiger. However, it is likely that when the hunt for unicorns began for the sake of one valuable trophy - their horns, several unicorns survived and were safely hidden in the forests of Scotland and Ireland. In the magical forests where fairies, gnomes, elves and other mystical inhabitants of these secret forests live :)

Today, you can quite often find the Unicorn symbol in everyday life - it can be found in a variety of art books, in addition, it is used by writers, artists and musicians. His image is on various figurines, jewelry and amulets sold in souvenir shops; moreover, he is inscribed on the coat of arms of Great Britain. Rare " fantasy"The film can do without this amazing and beautiful animal.

Researchers claim that this image first appeared in the legends of the ancient Indians; it was described as a magical animal with incredible power. The white unicorn had an almost divine status, he was revered with the same fervor as the most famous Gods from the ancient Indian pantheon

Later, legends about this wonderful creature penetrated the Celestial Empire (China), then Egypt, and then other countries. In Europe, and especially in Ancient Greece, they were confident in the reality of this creature; even the great Aristotle succumbed to myths and described it as an ordinary species of artiodactyls.

In different states, the Unicorn symbol represented completely different ideas.

In China it denoted the unity of two opposites - male and female and human creative potential. Meeting him was a good sign that promised the birth of an outstanding scientist or the coming of power of a good emperor

In Tibet, India and Persia it was considered a symbol of wisdom, awakened consciousness, spiritual wealth and purification

In Europe The greatest popularity of this magical animal occurred in the Middle Ages. The medieval Unicorn personified three components - a symbol of alchemy, knightly symbolism, and its representation in Christianity.

In alchemical science This symbol meant the evolution of spirituality; its horn represents the penetration of spiritual essence into materiality, a symbol of the power of magicians and wizards.

In Christianity he was the personification of nobility, divine unity and spiritual power, and was even associated with Jesus Christ himself.

In knightly symbolism it is presented as an image of spiritual love, denotes romantic feelings for his lady knight, with the help of which he becomes invincible and brave, personifies the purity of thoughts.

In modern culture consumption symbol of the Unicorn most closely correlates with the image of the Unicorn in the European Middle Ages. It denotes magic, purity of feelings and deeds, white magic.

The unicorn is one of the very few mythological creatures that is considered beneficial in almost all traditions. In the modern understanding, it is simply a mysterious beautiful horse with one horn. The traditional unicorn is a symbol that is represented slightly differently: with a goat's beard, a lion's tail and cloven hooves.

History of the unicorn as a symbol

Unicorns occupy a place of honor in Greek mythology, Chinese traditions, and the art of the Indus Valley and India. Greek writers, including Pliny the Elder and Aristotle, mention them in their writings. There are at least eight mentions of the unicorn in the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the art of the Middle Ages, the unicorn is a symbol with religious meaning. According to legend, a beautiful maiden in the image of the Virgin Mary managed to catch this wondrous beast and tame it in such a way that the animal trustingly laid its head on her lap.

Here the unicorn is a symbol of reinvention, the incarnation of Christ, and his death was seen as the Passion of Christ. The pagan image of a horse with one horn became highly valued by the church.

Unicorn magic

The unicorn is a symbol of magic. His magical powers are also legendary. His horn is harder than the strongest diamond, and is capable of neutralizing poisons. And the tears of a unicorn can heal both physical wounds and sorrows of the heart. Some of them can fly and talk to all kinds of other living things. The magical unicorn is a symbol of freedom, healing and beauty. Powerful magic wands had unicorn hair at their core, and its blood could heal a person who was dying.

What does the unicorn mean as a symbol?

The legendary white horse or pony with one horn is a symbol of purity and innocence in European mythology. Only a virgin could catch and tame him. What is the meaning of the symbol?

Protection. The unicorn is the protector and patron of all virgins. Its horn has magical healing powers and was a popular ingredient in medieval medicines. It was a powerful antidote and protection from evil.
Virtue. The white unicorn is a symbol of dignity, chastity and purity.
Love and harmony. Unicorns are associated with the light of the moon, love, harmony and understanding. In medieval Europe, this gentle creature stood in opposition to the lion, which represented the more violent solar influence.
Another meaning of the symbol is associated with courage, strength, and sometimes cruelty.

Unicorns in heraldry

The unicorn is also a prominent and significant figure in heraldic symbolism and is usually represented with a spiral horn of red, black or any other color.

The unicorn in 15th-century heraldry is profiled with the tail of a lion and the hooves of a goat, symbolizing the breaking of the shackles of slavery. This was prompted by the sacred status of the unicorn in medieval times. Becoming more refined, it was associated with the attributes of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.

These solitary creatures personified the model of monastic life. The connection with the Holy Spirit made them a symbol of mysticism and spiritual values. In Scotland, two unicorns are depicted on the royal coat of arms; the British coat of arms displays a unicorn with a lion.

Belief in unicorns

Of all the mythical and legendary creatures, from the scaly dragon to the cunning sphinx, the unicorn has always been the most beautiful and most beloved. At the same time fierce and proud, he was noble and kind. While many magical creatures foreshadowed danger, the unicorn usually brought good luck. For many centuries, Europeans believed in its existence, as if it were a real animal that lived in a foreign country, such as India, Persia or Abyssinia. There was an opinion that it was not a magical creature, but simply a sample of foreign zoology. Currently, there is hardly a person who believes in their real existence.

Description of unicorns

One day, a fragment of a description of an unknown beast was found, made by Photias, Patriarch of Constantinople (circa 810-893 AD). He writes:

“In India there are wild asses as big as horses or even bigger. Their body is white, their head is dark red, their eyes are bluish, and they have an elbow-length horn in their forehead. The lower part of the horn, at a distance of about two palms from the forehead, is completely white, the middle part is black, the upper part is fiery red. Those who drink from a cup made from it are resistant to convulsions, epilepsy and even poison, provided that before or after taking the poison they drank wine, water or other liquid from these cups. Their ankles are very beautiful. These animals are very strong and fast, neither a horse nor any other animal can overtake them.”

Female symbol

According to legend, the unicorn is a symbol for women. It was believed that only a chaste young virgin with pure thoughts could catch him. Often on ancient paintings and manuscripts one could see images of these noble animals along with beautiful young maidens.

Unicorn in Canada?

Mostly any mention of unicorns is associated with China, India and Africa, as well as with gullible medieval Europe, which was characterized by belief in fairies, goblins and dragons. What do Canada and a unicorn have in common? Which country's symbol looks like a horse with one horn on its forehead? It is still located on the coats of arms of England and Scotland, and it also has its own legends associated with it.

As for North America, disproportionately horned creatures lived here during the time of dinosaurs, capable of piercing several other large animals with their horns. These include the suborder Ceratopsia (centrosaurs). These creatures looked like giant rhinoceroses, which were incredibly impulsive and cruel and belonged to the Cretaceous period. As is known, more than sixty-three million years separate the last dinosaurs from primitive man. However, early fossil finds were very helpful in fueling the idea that large fairy creatures such as dragons and unicorns once roamed the earth.

There are only two animals in nature that have one horn, the rhinoceros and the narwhal. The latter's tusk can reach 3 meters. It was truly a mythical sea horse with a horn. Found in Arctic seas, including the northern waters of Canada, the narwhal appears on a number of Canadian coats of arms. Animals, including bulls, deer, lions, griffins, unicorns - strong, fast and often ferocious - are a common practice in heraldry.

Unicorn as a national animal

Oddly enough, the official animal of Scotland is the unicorn. A fantasy character may seem like the wrong choice for a country's national animal, but that is not the case for a state that celebrates its love of a long history of myths and legends. Since the 12th century, the unicorn has been a Scottish heraldic symbol, appearing on an early form of William I's Scottish coat of arms.

Unicorns were worshiped by the ancient Babylonians, and written descriptions of them have been found in the texts of the ancient Persians, Romans, Greeks and ancient Jewish scholars. In Celtic mythology, the unicorn of Scotland symbolized innocence and purity, healing powers, joy and even life itself, and was also seen as a symbol of masculinity and strength. During the reign of King James III (1460-1488), gold coins were introduced depicting a mythical creature with one horn.

Unicorn today

People at all times have been fascinated by all kinds of monsters and mythical creatures. This fairy-tale character is still incredibly in demand and popular today. The image of a unicorn is found in films, literature, children's fairy tales, and comics. In souvenir shops you can buy a variety of figurines, jewelry, trinkets of all types and sizes.

Unicorn in heraldry

This term has other meanings, see Unicorn (meanings).

Heraldic unicorn

Unicorn- an armorial figure related to non-heraldic. A pair of unicorns are shield holders in the coat of arms of Scotland, one each in the state emblems of Great Britain and Canada. The unicorn is considered a heraldic symbol of caution, prudence, prudence, purity, purity, severity and severity.

Usage

In appearance it is similar to a horse and differs from it in the horn with which its head is armed and its beard. If the unicorn had a crown, it was not on its head, but on its neck, in the form of a collar.

In heraldic books, the unicorn is likened to a brave soldier, “who would rather die than fall into the hands of the enemy alive”. There was another metaphorical interpretation of the unicorn on the coat of arms of a medieval knight: “enemies flee from a brave man like poison from a wonderful horn.” This is also a prototype of monastic life, the desire for solitude. The association of unicorn symbolism with the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ was highly valued, leading some medieval writers to suggest that the unicorn should not be tarnished by placing its image on a shield or crest. However, by the 16th century, the figure of the heraldic unicorn gained popularity in family coats of arms. Sometimes the authorities granted the unicorn emblem to a craftsman or trading company for the highest quality of goods. The unicorn is called leaning ( accule), when he stands erect with his front legs raised, and in a defensive position ( en defense), when he wants to defend himself with his horn. Rarely seen in other species.

Byzantium

The Byzantine emperors in state symbols, in combination with the double-headed eagle, used the four coats of arms of the largest prefectures of the former Roman Empire, namely: the eagle of Italy, the vulture of Gaul, the unicorn of Asia and the lion of Illyria

Russia

It was depicted on Russian gold coins from the time of the Grand Duke of Moscow John III and ending with the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (starting from False Dmitry I, it was also minted on silver coins). Since 1562, the unicorn has been depicted on the chest of a double-headed eagle, along with St. George, so in this era their semantics were equivalent. The symbol of the unicorn is contained on the double-sided state seals of Tsar Ivan the Terrible: Large (from 1562) and Small (from 1571), as well as the Great State Seals of Tsars Boris Godunov, False Dmitry, Mikhail Fedorovich, Alexei Mikhailovich, on the seal of the Great Palace during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich. A seal with a unicorn was used to seal letters from Ivan the Terrible that were of a personal nature, for example, correspondence with the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. The unicorn is also depicted on the back of the throne of the Terrible Tsar, on ceremonial axes, saddles, window frames of palaces, on the coats of arms of the Russian noble families of the Batashevs, Bonch-Bruevichs, Verigins, Kudryavtsevs, Ostafyevs, Romanovskys, Strekalovs, Turgenevs, Shuvalovs, as a shield holder is included in the coats of arms of the Boltins , Ermolovs, Kozlovskys, Saltykovs, Loris-Melikovs.

In addition, it is present on the coats of arms of the cities: Lysva (Russia), Saint-Lo (France), Lisnitz (Czech Republic), Vystutis and Merkin (Lithuania), Ramos (Switzerland), Eger (Hungary), Schwäbisch Gmünd and Gingen an der Brenz (Germany), depicted in the coat of arms of the Canadian province of Newfoundland.

Kazakhstan

The coat of arms of Kazakhstan depicts a tulpar - a legendary creature that combines the horn of a unicorn and the wings of Pegasus.

Examples

Lion and unicorn

Main articles: Lion in heraldry, Unicorn in heraldry

Lion and Unicorn- an emblematic pair found in heraldry, literature, architecture and fine arts.

The semantics of the pair “lion and unicorn” may differ depending on the cultural tradition and era. The semantics of the pairs “lion and unicorn” or “unicorn and lion” can be equal or different. The semantics of these two figures themselves can be considered together or be independent of each other.

A popular story is about a battle between a lion and a unicorn. Probably, the struggle of these animals symbolizes the victory of summer (Leo) over spring (Unicorn). Also, their battle can symbolize the struggle between two worlds: aboveground and underground.

According to Jonah and Peter Oupy, as set out in the Oxford Dictionary of Children's Poems, the plot of the rivalry between the Unicorn and the Lion appeared several thousand years ago. This plot may correlate with the Vedic myth of the battle between Indra and Vritra.

The plot of the battle between a lion and a unicorn is in Edmund Spenser’s knightly poem “The Fairy Queen,” Lewis Carroll’s story “Alice Through the Looking-Glass,” and “The Book of the Pigeon.”

In English culture

Folklore

The poem about the battle between the Lion and the Unicorn supposedly appeared in the 17th century, after the union between England and Scotland. As a result of this union, the heraldic symbols of a lion and a unicorn were combined. A pair of unicorns are the shield holders in the coat of arms of Scotland. And the lion is the heraldic symbol of England. The Union adopted a new British coat of arms, in which a Scottish unicorn and a British lion support the royal heraldic shield.

Folk song text:

The lion and the unicorn
Were fighting for the crown
The lion beat the unicorn
All around the town.
Some gave them white bread,
And some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum cake
and drummed them out of town.

Translated by Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak:

The Unicorn fought a mortal battle with the Lion for the crown.
The Lion chased the Unicorn along the city roads,
Who gave them black bread, and who gave them pie,
And then they were driven out of the threshold to the drum.

Translated by Alexander Alexandrovich Shcherbakov:

They fight, they fight for the crown, the Lion and the Unicorn.
The Lion is chasing the Unicorn along circuitous roads.
They are given bread crusts and biscuits to both of them,
They drive away from the capital with the beating of drums.

Translated by Vladimir Emmanuilovich Orel:

Lion
And one
Unicorn
They fought over the crown.
Having broken the Unicorn's horn,
Lev beat him as hard as he could.
They were given apple pie
Noodles and pasta.
There was a noise from behind the doors,
Someone drummed
And the frightened animals
Driven away
Out the gate!

"Fairy Queen"

The second book of Edmund Spenser's allegorical chivalric poem The Faerie Queene depicts a battle between a lion and a unicorn. The unicorn attacks the lion by bowing its head, and the lion first stands by the tree and, during the unicorn's attack, jumps to the side, as a result of which the unicorn gets stuck with its horn in the trunk.

This poem was written in the 16th century, even before the unification of the Scottish and English kingdoms and their heraldic symbols.

"Alice Through the Looking Glass"

Plot

In the arrangement of the pieces before the start of the game, the Unicorn is classified as white pieces, and the Lion is classified as black.

The Lion and the Unicorn, according to the King's first statement, are fighting for his own crown.

Lion and Unicorn are quite cute animals. The Unicorn tries to make friends with Alice, and the Lion offers to eat pie in honor of friendship. This is where some complications arise. Looking-glass pies must first be distributed and then cut. Alice tried to do everything normally. Suddenly, a drum roll is heard, and Alice finds herself in the forest. Leo can also be seen in the crowd at the carpet.

Allusions

The fight between the Lion and the Unicorn in Carroll's story is interpreted as a renewed process that is characteristic of the constant cycle of nature.

Lewis Carroll, writing the episode about the battle between the lion and the Unicorn, presumably had in mind the rivalry between William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli:

Who... will win... get... the crown? - Alice asked, breathing heavily.
- Well, no! - said the King. - What came into your head?

Carroll did not like Gladstone and had conservative views in politics. Contemporaries saw a caricature of Gladstone and Disraeli in a drawing by John Tenniel, who illustrated the book, as they were similar to Tenniel's caricatures of these politicians in the British humor magazine Punch.

Michael Hancher, a scholar of John Tanniel's illustrations, notes that the Unicorn's goatee, although similar to the beard that Disraeli grew in old age, is present on all heraldic unicorns. He believes that the allegory with Gladstone and Disraeli does not belong to Carroll or Tenniel, but was born from the readers.

Heraldry

In Russian culture

The emblematic pair “lion and unicorn” was widespread in Russian culture of the 16th-17th centuries. It is also found among the peoples of Siberia, for example, among the Yakuts. It is highly likely that the pair was borrowed from European culture.

Inkwell of the 17th-early 18th centuries. Russia. Plot: "The Battle of the Lion and the Unicorn"

There are three types of compositions: a confrontation between a lion and a unicorn, a pair on the sides of a double-headed eagle, a pair on the sides of a tree or other plant element.

"Pigeon Book"

The finale of “The Dove Book” shows the confrontation between a lion and a unicorn, which personifies the battle between Falsehood and Truth:

The unicorn is a beast - the father of all animals.
Why is the unicorn the father of all animals?
Because the unicorn is the father of all animals, -
And he walks underground,
And the mountains of stones do not hold him,
And even those rivers are fast;
When he emerges from the damp earth,
And he is looking for an opponent,
Or the fierceness of the lion-beast;
They met with a lion in an open field,
They, the animals, began to fight:
They want to be kings,
Take the majority over all the animals.
And they fight about their majority.
The unicorn beast submits,
He submits to the lion beast,
And the lion is signed - he will be a king,
The king will be over all animals.

Symbols of power

The lion and unicorn are very often found on royal utensils, thrones, buildings, etc. These figures are on the royal seal of Ivan IV. The throne of Ivan the Terrible is decorated on the sides with bone carvings depicting a rising lion and unicorn.

These figures, used together, can be a symbol of the main Russian principalities, around which the remaining lands of the state were grouped.

The rising lion and unicorn are depicted on the commanding ensign of the late 17th century, kept in the Hermitage collection; the banner that was with Ermak Timofeevich during the conquest of Siberia in 1581-1582, stored in the Armory; banner of a soldier's regiment of the late 17th century.

Architecture

The facade of the exit tower of the chambers of the Moscow Printing Yard is decorated with figures of a lion and a unicorn. These animals were also depicted on the logo of the Moscow Printing House - a lion and a unicorn under a crown, in a circle enclosed in a rectangle, with images of birds in the corners. This brand name has been used on the middles of books from the Moscow Printing House since the 17th century.

The decorative tier of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin, which frames the clock dials below, is composed of stone figures of lions and unicorns.

Arts and crafts

The battle of a lion with a unicorn is a frequent subject in the paintings of boxes and boxes, which was used until the 20th century. The animals were depicted in the pose of wrestlers, standing on their hind legs, they clasped each other with their front legs. At the same time, the curved horn of the unicorn pierces the head of the lion. The animals were portrayed good-naturedly.

Russian heraldry

In Jewish culture

The duel between a lion and a unicorn is a frequent image in synagogue paintings.

One of the midrashim tells how King David witnessed a fight between a lion and a unicorn. David was tending sheep and, mistaking the unicorn for a mountain, climbed onto its back. The unicorn stood up and the shepherd found himself in the sky. At David's request, God sent a lion, which forced the unicorn to prostrate, after which the shepherd descended to the ground.

Also, the lion is a symbol of the tribe of Yehudah, and the unicorn is a symbol of the tribe of Ephraim. The tribe of Yehudah led the Southern Kingdom of Israel, and the tribe of Ephraim led the Northern Kingdom of Israel. These kingdoms were at enmity with each other. After the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom were driven away, they are considered lost and will only be found with the coming of the messiah. The duel between the lion and the unicorn in the paintings reminds that with the coming of the Messiah, the previously warring Northern and Southern kingdoms, the symbols of which are these animals, should unite.

From the beginning of the 18th century, a lion and a unicorn began to be depicted on Jewish tombstones.

What does a unicorn tattoo mean?

Just a positive sign. Brings good luck.
Don't listen to idiots!
In the West, the unicorn gives rise to both positive and negative associations. It symbolizes courage, nobility, wisdom, but at the same time pride, rage and destructive power. He is a symbol of Christ and the Devil: the invincible power of Christ and the destructive power of the Devil. Chinese mythology attributes only positive qualities to the ki-lin. It symbolizes wisdom, justice and honesty. He appears only during the time of a just ruler, and his appearance marks the birth or death of a sage. The unicorn is a symbol of purity and purity due to the magical healing powers attributed to its horn and its association with Christ and the Virgin Mary. In the legend of a virgin, he unmistakably recognizes her chastity and, if the girl is vicious, he pierces her with his horn. The unicorn has long been credited with such a quality as royalty. Aelian (Greek writer) mentions that young unicorns were brought to the king and put on public display. European travelers talked about unicorns that belonged to the rulers of the East. The image of a unicorn is found on banners, standards and heraldry of countries such as France, Great Britain, Scotland, Italy and even Russia: the image of a unicorn was in the personal coat of arms of Count Shuvalov. The most famous is the coat of arms of the British Royal Army, which depicts a unicorn and a lion as allies.
The first mention of a one-horned animal in the West dates back to the 400s BC. e. It appeared in the book of the Greek Ctesias, who served for about 17 years as a doctor at the Persian court. Upon returning to Greece, he wrote two books - “About Persia” and “About India”. In the latter, Ctesias mentions large wild asses with dark red heads, blue eyes and blue bodies, with a horn on their foreheads. If someone drinks wine or water from such a horn, no disease will take him. Ctesias also says that these donkeys are extremely difficult to catch alive; hunters only catch them when they are with young ones that they cannot abandon.
The next mention of the unicorn is from Aristotle. He wrote: “We have not seen a single equid animal with a pair of horns. But some, such as the Indian donkey, have one horn and are odd-toed ungulates. The antelope has one horn and cloven hooves” (“History of Animals”).
Julius Caesar describes an unusual-looking one-horned animal that supposedly lived in the Herkinian forest in Germany: “This bull is similar in outline to a deer, with one horn sticking out from the middle of its forehead, larger and straighter than any previously known. From its top branches spread out like an open hand.” ("Gallic War").
Roman writer Claudius Aelianus, born around 170 AD. e. , in the book “Motley Tales” mentions three varieties of unicorn. The first two are similar to the one described by Ctesias, and the third is a one-horned animal called a cartazon and lives in India. It is “about the size of a full-grown horse, is red in color, has the mane of a horse, and is very fast.” A black horn with rings or spirals grows between the eyes. Cartazons are not aggressive towards other animals, but are intolerant of each other: males fight among themselves, even attack females. During the mating period, the temperament of the males softens, but when the females have cubs, they become ferocious again. These authors undoubtedly contributed to the creation of the legend of the unicorn as an indomitable character, a strong and fast animal with a miraculous horn.
Now let's turn to China. The first mention of unicorns in Chinese sources dates back to 2697 BC. e. Charles Gould, who studied them, counts at least 6 species of these animals: ki-lin, king, kioh twan, poh, hiai chai, tudzhon shu. The most popular - ki-lin usually has the body of a deer, sometimes a horse, the head can be that of a lion or a deer, the tail of a bull or another animal, the body can be scaly. Ki-lin have one or two flesh-colored horns, sometimes only the tip of the horn is colored. Ki-lin combines men

What does a unicorn drinking water on its shoulder mean?

Seryozha

The unicorn is a mythical animal with the body of a horse and the presence of one straight horn on its forehead - an elegant but ferocious beast. Its white color symbolizes purity and virginity. The horn in the center of the unicorn's forehead is so sharp that anyone who touches it can cut himself. The unicorn's horn purifies everything it touches and is a symbol of purification and intelligence. The unicorn simultaneously means both male, pure penetrating power, and female wisdom, purity and chastity.
According to legend, the unicorn did not let anyone near it, only a virgin could tame it, feeling her purity, the Unicorn fell asleep at her feet, resting its head on the girl’s lap. In Christianity it is recognized as a symbol of cleansing power and female chastity. The unicorn, being a moon sign, balances the solar energy of the lion. In China it means abundance, longevity and the virtues of government.

Which are considered useful in almost all traditions. In the modern understanding, it is simply a mysterious beautiful horse with one horn. The traditional unicorn is a symbol that is represented slightly differently: with a goat's beard, a lion's tail and cloven hooves.

History of the unicorn as a symbol

Here the unicorn is a symbol of reinvention, the incarnation of Christ, and his death was seen as the Passion of Christ. The pagan image of a horse with one horn became highly valued by the church.

Unicorn magic

What does the unicorn mean as a symbol?

The legendary white horse or pony with one horn is a symbol of purity and innocence in European mythology. Only a virgin could catch and tame him. What is the meaning of the symbol?

Protection. The unicorn is the protector and patron of all virgins. Its horn has magical healing powers and was a popular ingredient in medieval medicines. It was a powerful antidote and protection from evil.
Virtue. The white unicorn is a symbol of dignity, chastity and purity.
Love and harmony. Unicorns are associated with the light of the moon, love, harmony and understanding. In medieval Europe, this gentle creature stood in opposition to the lion, which represented the more violent solar influence.
Another meaning of the symbol is associated with courage, strength, and sometimes cruelty.

Unicorns in heraldry

The unicorn is also a prominent and significant figure in heraldic symbolism and is usually represented with a spiral horn of red, black or any other color.

Belief in unicorns

Description of unicorns

One day, a fragment of a description of an unknown beast was found, made by Photias, Patriarch of Constantinople (circa 810-893 AD). He writes.

History of the unicorn as a symbol

Here the unicorn is a symbol of reinvention, the incarnation of Christ, and his death was seen as the Passion of Christ. The one-horned pagan became highly valued by the church.

Unicorn magic

What does the unicorn mean as a symbol?

The legendary white horse or pony with one horn is a symbol of purity and innocence in European mythology. Only a virgin could catch and tame him. What is the meaning of the symbol?

Protection. The unicorn is the protector and patron of all virgins. Its horn has magical healing powers and was a popular ingredient in medieval medicines. It was a powerful antidote and protection from evil.
Virtue. The white unicorn is a symbol of dignity, chastity and purity.
Love and harmony. Unicorns are associated with the light of the moon, love, harmony and understanding. In medieval Europe, this gentle creature stood in opposition to the lion, which represented the more violent solar influence.
Another meaning of the symbol is associated with courage, strength, and sometimes cruelty.

Unicorns in heraldry

The unicorn is also a prominent and significant figure in heraldic symbolism and is usually represented with a spiral horn of red, black or any other color.

Belief in unicorns

Description of unicorns

One day, a fragment of a description of an unknown beast was found, made by Photias, Patriarch of Constantinople (circa 810-893 AD). He writes:

“In India there are some as big as horses or even bigger. Their body is white, their head is dark red, their eyes are bluish, and they have an elbow-length horn in their forehead. The lower part of the horn, at a distance of about two palms from the forehead, is completely white, the middle part is black, the upper part is fiery red. Those who drink from a cup made from it are resistant to convulsions, epilepsy and even poison, provided that before or after taking the poison they drank wine, water or other liquid from these cups. Their ankles are very beautiful. These animals are very strong and fast, neither a horse nor any other animal can overtake them.”

Female symbol

Unicorn in Canada?

Mostly any mention of unicorns is associated with China, India and Africa, as well as with gullible medieval Europe, which was characterized by belief in fairies, goblins and dragons. What do Canada and a unicorn have in common? Which country's symbol looks like a horse with one horn on its forehead? It is still located in Scotland, and it also has its own legends associated with it.

In nature there are only two animals that possess one and the narwhal. The latter's tusk can reach 3 meters. It was truly a mythical sea horse with a horn. Found in Arctic seas, including the northern waters of Canada, the narwhal appears on a number of Canadian coats of arms. Animals, including bulls, deer, lions, griffins, unicorns - strong, fast and often ferocious - are a common practice in heraldry.