Unicorn

The unicorn (in Somali, "faras hal-gees") is a creature of folklore and ancient lore with no confirmed existence in nature. It is typically depicted as a white horse with a single long, straight horn protruding from its forehead. No scientific evidence supports the claim that such an animal ever existed.

Images of unicorns appeared in ancient Greek writings, in medieval European manuscripts and art, and in royal heraldry. Today the unicorn is a recognizable symbol in children's literature, film, and marketing.

Origins of the legend

Ancient Greek writers reported accounts of a horned creature inhabiting distant lands, particularly India. These accounts are believed to derive from real animals such as the rhinoceros, the oryx, or the Arctic narwhal, whose long horns were traded in commercial networks.

Medieval Europe

In the Middle Ages, the unicorn acquired symbolic and moral meanings, understood as an emblem of grace. Medieval narratives claimed it could only be captured if a virgin maiden sat near it. Its horn, called an "alicorn," was thought to have healing properties; narwhal horns were sold in European markets as unicorn horns.

Symbolism and modern use

The unicorn appears in the heraldry of Scotland and in other symbols of the British monarchy. In modern business terminology, the word "unicorn" is also applied to a start-up company valued at one billion US dollars or more.