While more modern translations do not mention unicorns, there are nine references to unicorns in the King James version of the Bible, which was originally published in Most scholars suspect mistranslation. It's possible the word "unicorn," which simply meant "single-horned animal," could have been referring to a rhinoceros. Some scholars also believe the Hebrew word "re'em," which was translated as "unicorn," actually was alluding to a wild bull. Here are the references to unicorns in the Bible:.
While horses have an extensive fossil record, there are no confirmed fossils of unicorns. But that hasn't stopped people from trying to find unicorn remains.
One of the principal characters in the book Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier is based on the life of English paleontologist Mary Anning. Anning collected fossils but didn't understand what the fossilized creatures were. For instance, fossils we now know are cephalopods were thought to be coiled snakes.
Straight cephalopod shells were also found, and many people thought these were unicorn horns. Several unicorn skeletons also have been discovered, but all of them have been deemed fake.
In the s, German scientist and inventor Otto von Guericke created a fake unicorn skeleton with bones locals found in a cave. And a sketch based on the model was even included in a book on natural history written in the s.
Whether the original fake was created out of fun or the creator thought he was building a real unicorn is unknown. Many people claim to have seen unicorns in person. In , Austrian naturalist Antal Festetics said he viewed a unicorn while horseback riding in the Harz Mountains, though he offered no proof of the encounter. And in , the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto shared footage of a unicorn sighting, which was later deemed a hoax.
In the footage, the unicorn's gait looks a bit wooden as it travels along, unlike the flowing gait of a horse. It is possible to manipulate the horn buds of cattle and goats—and probably other horned animals, as well—so they twist together to create the look of a unicorn. Similarly, the Prato unicorn , a deer with a single horn in the center of its head, was spotted in Italy in While rare, these things do happen, perhaps giving rise to the myth of the unicorn.
One animal does come by its single horn honestly. The narwhal—or Monodon monoceros , which means "single-toothed whale"—has what appears to be a longhorn projecting from its forehead.
In reality, this tooth protrudes through a gap in its upper lip. So it's not really a horn, and it's not entirely clear to scientists what this tusk is for. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.
Create a personalised content profile. Nonetheless, the Siberian unicorn is a breath-taking creature in its own right, and as good a representation of power as any Renaissance depiction of a unicorn. Today, unicorns have taken on a more versatile shape. Instead of long-legged and graceful or muscular and powerful, they are often shown to be cute. Some modern unicorns are given wings , but generally they are shown without.
Their manes and tails remain thick and rich , and they still closely resemble horses in size and shape. Modern unicorns are sometime shown with a star on their flanks, or on their foreheads beneath the horn. Unicorns were traditionally white, of course, reflecting their purity and innocence. Now, however, unicorns are depicted in a whole range of colors, from pastels to bright rainbows.
Pink unicorns, blue unicorns, yellow unicorns, and multi-colored unicorns brim on shop shelves, and wander through the pages of picture books. Rainbow unicorns have particular significance. Unicorns started to be associated with multi-colors only quite recently , perhaps because rainbows are also considered full of magic and wonder.
It may also be something to do with the elusive nature of both, and the rarity with which they are seen. In a similar way, unicorns seem to have taken on sparkles and glitter. These perhaps reflect how magical the creatures are, and twinkling hooves and eyes add to the enchantment they offer, especially for young children. Even unicorns which have remained predominantly white are often shown with brightly colored manes or tails. Sometimes their horns are pearlescent or opalescent rainbow.
This softer coloring seems to fit with the beauty and gentility of unicorns, while giving them an extra touch of the unusual. They certainly look mystical and magical, but you do have to wonder how these creatures stay hidden in the forests and caves as well as their white ancestors.
In all incarnations, unicorns are beautiful and magical to behold. No matter what sort of unicorn you see sneaking through your garden or creeping in the local forests, it will certainly be enchanting.
We have to wonder what form the unicorn will take on next as it continues to accompany humans through history, leaving fame and admiring whispers in its hoof-prints. Unicorn Yard s a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Unicorn Yard. White unicorn with a goatee — a feature that has mostly disappeared in the modern represenation of the unicorn. The Siberian unicorn probbly looks quite different from the image of the modern day unicorn you had in mind. Image source. Unicorn of flowers and colors — a modern day trend. What Powers Do Unicorns Have?
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