Unicorn as a symbol, which means - a symbol of purity and light. The Pure Truth About the Unicorn
Which are considered useful in almost all traditions. In the modern sense, this is just a mysterious beautiful horse with one horn. The traditional unicorn is a symbol that is presented somewhat differently: with a goat's beard, a lion's tail, and cloven hooves.
The history of the unicorn as a symbol
Unicorns take pride of place in Greek mythology, Chinese traditions, in 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 references to the unicorn in the Old Testament of the Bible.
In the art of the Middle Ages, the unicorn is a symbol with religious significance. According to legend, a beautiful girl in the image of the Virgin Mary managed to catch this wondrous beast and tame it in such a way that the animal trustfully laid its head on her knees.
Here the unicorn is a symbol of rethinking, the incarnation of Christ, and his death was seen as the Passion of Christ. The pagan with one horn became highly valued by the church.
Unicorn magic
The unicorn is a symbol of magic. His magical powers are also legendary. Its horn is harder than the most durable diamond, it is able to neutralize 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 beings. The magical unicorn is a symbol of freedom, healing and beauty. Powerful magic wands had the hair of a unicorn 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 a 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 in 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 lifting of the shackles of slavery. This was instigated by the sacred status of the unicorn in medieval times. Having become 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.
Faith in unicorns
Of all the mythical and legendary creatures From the scaly dragon to the cunning sphinx, the unicorn has always been the prettiest and most beloved. At the same time fierce and proud, he was noble and kind. While many magical creatures portend danger, the unicorn usually brings good luck. For centuries, Europeans believed in its existence, as if it were a real animal that lived in a foreign country, for example, in India, Persia or Abyssinia. There was an opinion that it was not a magical creature, but simply a sample of foreign zoology. At present, there is hardly a person who believes in their real existence.
Description of unicorns
Once a fragment of a description of an unknown beast was found, made by Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople (about 810-893 AD). He's writing:
“In India, there are big ones like horses, or even bigger. Their body is white, their head is dark red, their eyes are bluish, and they have a cubit-length horn in their forehead. The lower part of the horn, about two palms from the forehead, is completely white, the middle one is black, top part is fiery red. Those who drink from a cup made from it are resistant to convulsions, epilepsy, and even poison, provided they drink wine, water, or other liquid from these cups before or after taking the poison. 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 canvases and in 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 the gullible medieval Europe, which was characterized by belief in fairies, goblins and dragons. What do Canada and the unicorn have in common? Which country's symbol looks like a horse with a single horn on its forehead? It is still located on Scotland, and its legends are also associated with this.
As for North America, then indeed, in the time of the dinosaurs, disproportionate horned creatures lived here, capable of piercing several other large animals with their horn. They include the suborder Ceratopsia (centrosaurs). These creatures looked like giant rhinos who were incredibly impulsive and violent and belonged to Cretaceous period. As you know, more than sixty-three million years separate the last dinosaurs from primitive man. However, early fossil finds have been of great help in fueling the idea that such large fairy-tale creatures as dragons and unicorns once roamed the earth.
In nature, there are only two animals that possess one and the narwhal. The tusk of the latter can reach 3 meters. It was indeed a mythical sea horse with a horn. Inhabited in the Arctic seas, including northern waters Canada, the narwhal is present in a number of Canadian coats of arms. Animals, including bulls, deer, lions, griffins, unicorns - strong, fast and often ferocious - are common practice in heraldry.
Unicorn as national animal
Oddly enough, the official animal of Scotland is the unicorn. A fantasy character might seem like the wrong choice for a country's national animal, but that's not the case for a state that glorifies its love of long history myths and legends. Since the 12th century, the unicorn has been a Scottish heraldic symbol, which was present on the early form of the Scottish coat of arms of William I.
Unicorns were worshiped by the ancient Babylonians, and their written descriptions 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 power, 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, comics. In souvenir shops you can buy a variety of figurines, jewelry, trinkets of all kinds and sizes.
.. Unicorn, a mythical animal found in many mythological systems (in early traditions with the body of a bull, in later traditions with the body of a horse, sometimes a goat), referred to by most characteristic feature- the presence of one long straight horn on the forehead. Unicorn - Symbolizes chastity, and also serves as the emblem of the sword. Tradition usually represents him in the form of a white horse with one horn coming out of his forehead; however, according to esoteric beliefs, it has a white torso, a red head, and blue eyes. Legends say that he is insatiable when pursued, but dutifully lie down on the ground if a virgin approaches him. In general, it is impossible to catch a unicorn, but if you succeed, you can only keep it with a golden bridle.
The earliest images of the Unicorn (as a one-horned bull) are found in cultural monuments of the 3rd millennium BC. e., in particular on seals from the ancient cities of the Indus Valley - Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, representing one of the most significant sacred images. The symbol of the Unicorn is reflected in the Atharvaveda (in the myth of the flood, during which Manu tied the ship to the horn of the Unicorn), and in the Mahabharata. With the influence of this later Indian tradition, researchers associate the appearance of the image of the Unicorn in Western Asian (Middle Eastern) and early European mythological systems. Greek (Ctesias, Aristotle) and Roman (Pliny the Elder) traditions considered the Unicorn as a real-life beast and associated its origin with India (or Africa). In translations old testament the beast ram (Heb., "fierce beast") was identified with the Unicorn. The symbolism of the Unicorn plays a significant role in medieval Christian writings, dating back to the Greek text of the "Physiologist" (2-3 centuries AD); The unicorn is seen as a symbol of purity and virginity. According to the "Physiologist", the Unicorn can only be tamed by a pure maiden; hence the later Christian tradition linking the Unicorn with the Virgin Mary and with Jesus Christ.
Plots associated with the Unicorn are found in both Eastern (including Chinese and Muslim) and Western European (the German tale of the tailor and the seven flies) folklore. In Russian "alphabet books" of the 16th-17th centuries. The unicorn is described as a terrible and invincible beast, like a horse, all the strength of which lies in its horn. The author of the encyclopedia Anastasia Aleksandrovawebsite
The equatorial constellation (lat. Monoceros) is named after the Unicorn. The symbol of the Unicorn occupies a significant place in heraldry: it was depicted both on dynastic and state (for example, Scottish, and later British), and personal coats of arms, including in the 18th century. on the coats of arms of some Russian noble families, in particular Count P.I. the custom of calling "inrogs" ("unicorns") artillery pieces(with the image of E.). The horn of the Unicorn, under the guise of which the tusks of narwhal whales (also called unicorns) were distributed in medieval Europe, was attributed healing properties in the treatment of various diseases, snake bites (according to folklore, the Unicorn purifies water poisoned by a snake with its horn), etc.
The Unicorn symbol, widely represented in the mystical writings and fine arts of the European Middle Ages (the scene of the taming of the Unicorn by a virgin was reflected in the plastic decoration of the Freiburg and Erfurt cathedrals, in book miniatures, on tapestries, in particular on the late 15th century tapestry "The Virgin and the Unicorn" from Cluny Museum in Paris) is resurrected by those writers of the 20th century who relied on this mythopoetic tradition. Unicorns feed on flowers, they especially love rosehip flowers, and well-fed honey, and they drink morning dew. They also look for small lakes in the depths of the forest, in which they bathe and drink from there, and the water in these lakes usually becomes very clear and has the properties of living water. In Russian "alphabet books" of the 16th-17th centuries. the unicorn is described as a terrible and invincible beast, like a horse, all the strength of which lies in the horn. The horn of the unicorn was attributed healing properties(according to folklore, the unicorn purifies water poisoned by a snake with its horn). The unicorn is a creature of another world and most often portends happiness.
Symbolism - The white coloration of the unicorn has made it a natural symbol of purity, chastity and virginity. The horn of the unicorn was the weapon of the believer and of Christ.
The mythological unicorn was a symbol of chivalry with qualities befitting that status, proud and indomitable.
The legend of the hunter and the virgin bait became an allegory for the Incarnation of Christ and was later banned by the Council of Trent because they could not confirm the reality of unicorns in the existing world.
The author of the electronic mythological encyclopedia Alexandrova Anastasia
There are a huge number of trends in the field of beauty, but not all trends stand the test of time. "Unicorn" does not apply to the latter - it has long been entrenched in the beauty industry and not only. Since the end of 2016, the world has become obsessed with this mythical creature with a horn in its forehead. At first, the "magic" of the unicorn spread to food, and now it can be seen everywhere, in particular in the field of beauty - makeup on the theme, exclusive collections of cosmetics, manicures ... Why, in stores you can even find toys for adults, made in the form of that the horn of the unicorn..
Drinks and food
A new wave of popularity for this colorful trend began after the release of unicorn frappuccino and lemonade in Starbucks coffee shops in America. In Russia, such bright drinks will appear only in a few months.
However, in the rainbow colors of the unicorn, food first appeared - toasts, pastries, cakes and more. To get bright pastries, confectioners add food coloring during the cooking process, creating not just a dessert, but a real work of art.
beauty industry
After that, bright colors could be found everywhere, it became especially popular to do makeup in this style. To achieve the goal of a unicorn-style make-up, shades of pink, blue and purple are mainly used. And, of course, do not forget about rhinestones and glitter.
Further - more, or, as they say, demand creates supply: cosmetic collections have appeared on the market that help achieve a "magic" result - shadows, lipsticks, makeup brushes and much more.
And the biggest unicorn trend, without a doubt, has become multi-colored hair. Girls from all over the world began to repaint, trying to evoke associations with a mythical creature among others.
What girls don’t go to to be in trend. In a similar style, fashionistas paint their nails, and some even make them in the shape of an animal horn.
sex toys
The unicorn trend has even reached the sex industry. Yes, yes, this is no joke: insanity has reached the point where any fan of the rainbow can buy himself (or as a gift) a dildo in the form of a horn.
Instagram photo
Unicorns
Our bright, multifaceted world is filled with interesting animals and magical creatures. One of them are unicorns, white mythical creatures symbolizing chastity.
In appearance, they resemble an ordinary white horse. But distinguishing feature in the form of a horn located on the forehead, will not let you confuse it with a horse.
The White Unicorn is a mystical creature. Its silvery luminous blood gives a person strength, success, heals the most severe wounds and prolongs life. However, a person who dares to try the blood of a unicorn will be damned.
"Killing a unicorn is considered a monstrous crime. Only one who has nothing to lose and who strives for complete victory is capable of committing such a crime. The blood of a unicorn saves life, even if a person is on the verge of death ... But a person will pay dearly for this. If he kills such a beautiful and defenseless creature for the sake of his own salvation, then from the moment the blood of a unicorn touches his lips, he will be cursed. (With)
But The Dark Lord not afraid of curses, he killed a lot of unicorns in forbidden forest trying to save his life:
"A few meters from them lay a unicorn, he was dead. Harry had never seen such a sad and such a beautiful picture. The unicorn had long, slender legs and a pearl-colored mane."(With)
According to legend, unicorns are more willing to let virgin girls near them than anyone else. However, young golden foals, according to Prof. Grabli-Dörg, are friendly to boys too.India is considered the birthplace of the unicorn, butit lives everywhere in the forests of northern Europe.
In the East, the Unicorn is a symbol of magic. He is depicted as white as snow, and thus he embodies the light magical powers. In the art of Feng Shui, the Unicorn is a pure, glorified creature, the personification of honor,goodness and nobility, everything bright and beautiful in the world.He is the embodiment of strength of character and body, wisdom, love and kindness. The unicorn will bring you closer to glory and honor. It symbolizes long life, festivity, splendor, joy, famous descendants and wisdom. (Therefore, we love and respect unicorns).
You can catch him only if the wizard does not use magic.
unicorn horn has the ability to neutralize poisons. In addition, daggers are made from the horns of unicorns. These daggers are very light, and at the same time the sharpest in the world. The wounds inflicted by these daggers heal almost instantly, so they were used quite often in magical rituals where blood was required. In order to get the horn, these beautiful creatures were killed, but you can take the horn of a unicorn without destroying it. They allowed a person with a pure heart and soul to take their horn voluntarily.The unicorn has a huge magical positive power. The hair of the unicorn is highly valued: it makes excellent cores for wands, and excellent dressings for wounds.
There are several types of unicorns:
1) British unicorn - larger than all their relatives. In short, this is a horse with a horn on its forehead. The body of the British unicorn is quite powerful, and it is decorated with a magnificent silvery mane and tail. British unicorns are usually pure white, with the exact same color, slightly silvery horn. The horn of British unicorns is quite small compared to the large body. It has the ability to neutralize any, even the most powerful poisons.
2) Indian unicorn. They are found in countries with a warm climate, but the largest population is in India, which is why the breed got its name. Unlike the British, Indian unicorns are extremely graceful, small (rarely found more stocky). The tail of these unicorns resembles a lion's - thin, with a tassel at the end. The horn of the Indian unicorn is longer and thinner than that of the British, and is no longer white, but completely silver. The wool of the Indian unicorn is not so thick, as it lives in a warm climate. The color of these proud animals is most often white with a faint grayish-blue tint. Less common are just white Indians.
3) Western or, as it is sometimes called, American Unicorn. This species is truly rare. They live in America. Spirits of the Wild West - Mustangs, wild horses - free and wayward. Western unicorns are like that too. Unlike all their fellows, they will never approach a person, and if they don’t like something, they can attack, attacking the enemy with a sharp horn. Americans are very hardy, able to travel long distances even in the heat. Interestingly, the horn of Western unicorns is fundamentally different from those that their relatives proudly wear - they do not have most of the abilities known among the British and Indians. However, nature has rewarded them with much more unusual properties. If you take the horn of an American unicorn and spin it on the ground, it will, like a compass (with only a slight difference), point to the West. The color of these unicorns is usually bay (dark brown with a black mane), less often gray or light beige. The horn is usually the color of "old bone" (sand beige).
4) Mirror unicorn. It is also called Mirror Ang. The wool of these incredible creatures fits so tightly to the body that it creates a continuous layer, and each mirror hair becomes an integral part of the entire cover. The silver horn also reflects light like a mirror. These unicorns are very clumsy creatures, although you can't call them clumsy. They are the size of a horse. They live as well as Indian unicorns in places with warm climate, but they love high humidity, trying to choose places near large reservoirs for existence. Especially common in Africa, along the banks of the Nile. In addition, magicians used to encounter them at Victoria Falls. The Horn of the Mirror Ang is different from the rest in that it allows wizards to travel to parallel worlds. During a magical rite with a horn on a mirrordrawa circle that becomes a "door" to another world.
5) Winged Unicorn. A mix between a British unicorn and a pegasus. In principle, it has the same properties as the Briton. The only difference is the ability to fly. The legs of this unicorn are shorter than those of their counterparts, but despite this, they are powerful. This kind of mutation occurred due to the fact that long ones interfere with flight, and power is needed for take-off and repulsion from the ground. Winged unicorns live in the mountains, next to streams and streams.
Winged unicorns are not as hardy as pegasi, they cannot fly for a long time. The feather from the wing of this unicorn can be used for writing, it gives inspiration (like a pegasus feather) and helps a person remember everything that he does not write. The color of Winged Unicorns is very different, depending on the country of residence, from white to black. The horn usually matches the coat color.
6) Black unicorn. The coat of this unicorn is usually black with a bluish sheen, the horn is golden. The eyes are bright yellow or orange, without a pupil. They were bred a long time ago, but later they began to breed in natural conditions, which is why they became the most common after the British and Indian relatives. More common in forests and near mountain meadows, but only at night. During the day they can sometimes be seen in dark places, away from sunlight because it is very unpleasant for them. The horn of the black unicorn is charged with great negative energy. As soon as a small particle of this horn gets into the blood of any living being, it ceases to control itself. The blood of this unicorn is used in black magic, for example, to prepare the strongest poisons.
Unicorns live apart, shunning people. But if they recognize a person, they will give their lives for him: they will protect him like their own foal. The bond between man and unicorn cannot be broken by time or distance.
But unicorns can also be raised in captivity. It is desirable, of course, that they have a fair amount of freedom. And they need to be looked after very well. Proper feeding of unicorns is the most important factor in their health and performance. Lack of feed needed nutrients slows down the growth and development of young animals and impairs the physique of adult unicorns.To raise these cute animals, you also need to know the diseases that they can be subjected to in captivity. Tetanus, Grass disease (an excruciating fatal disease that affects nervous system unicorn), lichen, fever, hoof infections and more. Unicorns must be handled very gently and carefully, as they can no doubt be called very gentle and shy creatures (with rare exceptions).
Muggles consider unicorns a fiction, a myth. If they accidentally see a unicorn, they will definitely write off what they saw for poor eyesight.
But we all know that Unicorns exist. I myself managed to meet this wonderful creature. Sharing my impressions, I can say that unicorns have a very soft mane and wonderful eyes, in which the wisdom of generations is read...
I wish you all to see the Unicorn and enjoy wonderful communication without words.
The mythical animal unicorn is present in many traditions. Various images of it are known: a goat - in the East, later in the West - a deer or a horse. He was always depicted with one horn in his forehead, most often spiral. “The unicorn is not a single, well-defined entity, but a fabulous creature with many variations: for example, there are one-horned horses, donkeys, fish, dragons, scarabs, etc. Strictly speaking, we are dealing with the theme of a single horn...” (C. G. Jung, “Psychology and Alchemy”)
IN ancient world he was considered a native of India, where he was depicted with a red head, with a white or black horn. Then he appeared in Babylon, China, Tibet, Greece. In the West, the apogee of his fame falls on the Middle Ages. The unicorn personifies power, a force that opposes the forces of darkness, maintaining balance in the universe. He is a symbol sunbeam, purity, turning towards unity, towards the center. The spiral is a reminder of what remains unchanged in time. In addition, the unicorn is a symbol of transmutation, freedom and knowledge, it points the way to those who seek the truth.
Many traditions speak of the unicorn as a mythical animal that represents supreme power Genesis. He is clothed with mystery and embodies the original unity, the beginning and ultimate goal of human existence, the unity of opposites and the ability to overcome internal contradictions, universal love and compassion.
IN Babylon he was represented as winged. The cylinder amulet, dated to around 1800 BC, has two unicorns depicted on opposite sides, symbolizing the two sides of the Tree of Life. In the Sumerian-Semitic tradition, the unicorn is a lunar symbol, an attribute of virgin goddesses.
IN Ancient China unicorn (qilin) is interpreted as a combination of two concepts: "qi" represents the male aspect, yang, driving force, the energy of creation; “lin” is the feminine principle, yin. Thus, qilin represents the creative impulse and its endless expansion, as well as the unity of the opposites of male and female. The unicorn is shown to people only in exceptional cases. He is considered a messenger of happiness, his appearance symbolizes the coming to power of a good ruler or the birth of a true sage. The appearance of the qilin marked the birth and death of Confucius.
Qilin is associated with some historical moments of the Chinese tradition. So, once, 5 thousand years ago, Emperor Fu-hsi was sitting on the bank near the mouth of the Yellow River. Suddenly a qilin appeared, and dirty waters the rivers brightened up and became crystal clear green color. The qilin stopped in front of the emperor, thrice hitting the rock with his hoof, and spoke to him with a voice ringing like a temple bell. When the qilin turned to leave, the emperor saw that his back was covered with magic signs, which he tried to copy. This is how the first written language of China appeared.
IN Tibet the unicorn is called "se-ru", it is mainly a gazelle or fallow deer that lives on mountain peaks. The Unicorn is a bridge between Heaven and Earth, between the world of light principles and the world of dark and dense matter, manifested and unmanifested. The unicorn is a symbol of awakened consciousness, wholeness and inner peace, it enlightens, shines in the dark and, like the morning star, points the way, inspiring people in search of wisdom. The pediments of the Himalayan monasteries invariably depict two unicorns turning the wheel of Dharma.
IN India the unicorn represents the power of spiritual wealth. He is both a destroyer and a creator. The symbol of the unicorn is found in the Atharvaveda and in the Mahabharata in the myth of the flood, during which Manu tied the ship to the horn of a giant unicorn fish.
IN Persia the unicorn personifies the fertilizing principle, strength and the ability to purify. In a Persian manuscript of the fifteenth century it is said: “As for his horn, it seems to be golden, with its help all corruption and infamy will be destroyed and dispelled.”
IN Hebrew tradition the legend says that when Yahweh asked Adam to name all the animals, the unicorn was the first to receive it, and thus he was elevated to the highest rank. When Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, the Lord gave the unicorn a choice: to stay in Eden or go with people. The unicorn chose the latter, and was forever blessed with compassion to people.
IN Greco-Roman traditions, the unicorn is an attribute of all virgin, lunar goddesses, for example, Artemis (Diana).
IN Christianity the unicorn horn is a symbol of divine unity, spiritual power and nobility, in connection with this, the unicorn becomes the image of Christ. small stature the unicorn is associated with the humiliation of Christ at his birth; its white color symbolizes purity, something that must be acquired by following the ways of the sons of God.
IN knightly symbolism the unicorn is associated with purity of feelings. The unicorn, accompanied by the Virgin, is the personification of chastity and purity. It often represents the devoted love of a knight for a lady. The unicorn also represents the abandonment of physical love for love that is purer and more powerful. This is something like a charm of purity, a miraculous cleansing of bodily life and sexual energy, giving the knight strength and courage.
Alchemical the unicorn represents the stage of purification, the White Work. It signifies transmutation and spiritual evolution. His horn symbolizes the possibility of the penetration of Spirit into Matter.
Along with the decline of faith, the deep meaning of the unicorn symbol gradually disappears. But the mythical animal, which has found immortality in iconography and sacred texts, is present everywhere and is ready to reveal its message to those who are able to hear it.
The saint rose, dropping the pieces
Prayers broken about contemplation:
To him came escaping from legend
A whitish beast with eyes like a deer
Stolen, and full of melancholy.
In the relaxed balance of the legs
Shimmering white ivory
And the white glitter, sliding, flowed over the wool,
And on the animal's forehead, as on a platform,
Shined like a tower in the moonlight, the horn
And with each step straightened in growth.
Mouth with grayish-pink down
Lightly lit white
Teeth, which became more and more sharp,
And nostrils greedily absorbed the heat,
But things did not stop the eye:
He threw images around,
Closing the whole cycle of blue legends.
Rainer Maria Rilke
