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American Unicorn
The American unicorn is mainly known for looking exactly like
a magnificent white horse except for the exception of the single
magically- made straight horn on the center of its forehead. This unicorn
loves to eat clover and blackberries. The American unicorn has a very
close relationship with the Pegasus and loves to run with him /her. This
unicorn can purify water and air and heal wounds with its horn, A male
can grow to over 200 pounds while the female can only grow to about 100
but don't take that as a sign of weakness. Females can move twice as
fast as males and are more known to heal wounds and purify air and
water. This type of unicorn loves to travel in groups or herds. Cartazon
This unicorn mentioned by Aelian says that there were
mountain unicorns that were large (about the size of a horse). This
black horned unicorn had elephant feet, a goats tail, tawny mane and
hair and the horn had rings (a cubit and a half, or 27 inches long) that
came to a sharp point. This unicorn was fatally combatant with its own
species, but was gentle when it was time to breed. It was actually
gentle with other animals as well. It also mentions that the king would
have the animals brought to them to battle. This could be a rhinoceros,
but the description does not fit when describing the horn. In addition,
the Cartazon is not attribute magical powers through its horn, unlike
the rhinoceros.
European Unicorn Monoceros europus
The European unicorn has a straight horn (almost) which is
tightly twisted and sharp as well as large ears, big brown eyes,
horse-like tail, and stand about three and a half feet at the shoulders.
Males weigh about or sometimes more than 100 pounds and females,
slightly smaller, tend to be only around 80 pounds. Their coats get
thicker in the winter months as well as longer and lighten to fawn or
creamy tints. A European Unicorn call sounds like a sad wail. Europeans
had come to believe that these horse like unicorns really existed in
remote parts of the world. Among the legends to them was the belief that
water touched by a unicorn's horn became safe for animals and people to
drink.
Indian Unicorn Equus assinoceros
An Indian species now believed to be extinct. They were "the
horned ass" and supposedly lived in prehistoric times. Since the genus
for this creature is "Equus" it is possible that it could have
interbred with horses or donkeys. The offspring would have been horned
mules. Karkadann
The karkadann is now believed to be extinct but once flourished on the
grass plains and deserts of India and Persia, possibly even Africa
(northeastern part). It commanded great respect because of its ferocity
and strength. The unicorn was supposed to have closely resembled the
Oryx (kind of like an antelope but bigger). The elephant was the
Karkadann's greatest enemy with the rhinoceros next in line.
The body of the unicorn was as large as a rhinoceros and had a tail like
a lion's. Each foot had two or even three hooves and instead of the
white horn we all picture on a unicorn, there rested a black spiral one.
It is said that the karkadann would stand for hours beneath the nest of
a dove, frightening away it's (dove's) predators so that it could enjoy
the dove's beauty. Ki'lin
The Ki'lin often attains the age of a thousand years, and it is the
noblest form of animal creation, the emblem of perfect good. The
celestial Ki'lin, is an intelligent forest unicorn in Chinese mythology.
It was not native to China, and was said to come from a distant place
and was always considered mythical. Luckily, for the Ki'lin, they were
never valued for their body parts and were never hunted.
The appearance of the Ki'lin varies greatly depending on region and sex.
It is a hybrid animal with the body of a deer, the head of a lion or
wolf, green or gold scales and a 12 foot long curved horn or antler
coated in skin. The ki'lin was described as having fur or scales that
ere red, yellow, blue, white and black which were the five Chinese
sacred colors. It had a deep, melodious bell-like call. Like its
European counterpart, the Ki'lin was solitary, and females were never
seen as only the males were seen.
As in European mythology, the Ki'lin had ties to fertility and fortune.
The Ki'lin would carry and distribute babies according to the will of
the Chinese gods. Mothers-to-be would hang pictures of Ki'lin on their
walls to encourage the birth of great men. They were only seen on rare,
special occasions and often heralded the birth of a great emperor. Their
appearance was a joyous occasion and if they showed themselves to the
emperor, it meant that emperor would have a peaceful reign.
As Buddhism became more popular in China, the Ki'lin adopted many of
their traditions. This why the Ki'lin refused to eat any living thing,
animal or vegetable. When it walked, it lifted up each divine hoof to
peer underneath and make sure that the Ki'lin didn't tread on any animal
or plant. The Ki'lin also grew a fleshy tip over its horn so that it
could never be used to hurt a living creature. If the Ki'lin were to
strike something with its soft, blunted horn, it would hurt the Ki'lin
terribly.
The Ki'lin is one of the four sacred animals who assisted P'an Ku in the
creation of the universe. The sacred animals were the four most
fortunate animals; the dragon, the phoenix, the tortoise and the
unicorn. They eventually became guardians of the sacred realms and left
the realm of man.
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Karkadann
The Karkadann is now believed to be extinct but once flourished on the
grass plains and deserts of India and Persia, possibly even Africa
(northeastern part). It commanded great respect because of its ferocity
and strength. The unicorn was supposed to have closely resembled the
Oryx (kind of like an antelope but bigger). The elephant was the
Karkadann's greatest enemy with the rhinoceros next in line.
The body of the unicorn was as large as a rhinoceros and had a tail like
a lion's. Each foot had two or even three hooves and instead of the
white horn we all picture on a unicorn, there rested a black spiral one.
It is said that the Karkadann would stand for hours beneath the nest of
a dove, frightening away it's (dove's) predators so that it could enjoy
the dove's beauty.
Kirin
An Asian unicorn, the Kirin resembles a stag but has the body
of a musk deer and swishes around an ox tail. The easiest ways to
distinguish them from all other unicorns are the spots on their back. Also,
their yellowish belly is multi-colored (red, yellow, blue, white, and
black).
Kirins tend to be shy, resulting in the lack of knowledge of their
existence. They never fight, unlike the Karkadann. They come mainly from Japan but it is also supposed to be found in only
the most remote forests in China.
Lancelot
Lancelot is a living unicorn in California. He is a very
goat-like creature with a ten inch horn on the top of his head. Lancelot
was specially bred from Angora goat stock and first appeared to the
public in 1980. He was in the circus (may still be) with the Ringling
Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1980. His owners, G'Zell and
Morning Glory are naturalists who have since produced more unicorns.
North American Unicorns
On the Canadian border, there are sometimes seen animals resembling
horses, but with cloven roofs, rough manes, a long straight horn upon
the forehead, a curled tail like that of the wild boar, black eyes, and
a neck like that of the stag. They live in the loneliest wildernesses
are so shy that the males do not even pasture with the females
except in the season of rut, when they are not so wild. As soon as this
season is past, however, they fight not only with other beasts but even
with those of their own kind.
Northern European Unicorn
Supposed to be a relative of the European unicorn, the
unicorn from the northern part of Europe differs only slightly. Its coat
is much shaggier, especially near the ankles, are larger than the
European unicorns, they have blue eyes, are bigger in size and have
longer, more flowing manes and tails. This unicorn, like the Kirin, is
extremely shy.
Persian Unicorns
The Khara was a unicorn important to the Zoroastrian
religion. the Khars was a Persia unicorn that looked like a large donkey
with a single horn growing from its forehead. this unicorn had only
three legs, but it had six eyes. The Khara had immense powers similar to
other unicorns.
In contrast, the Shadhavar was a delicate, gazelle-like unicorn whose
horn was a hollow. The wind flowed through this hollow horn and created
a beautiful flute-like music. The music would draw humans and animals.
Once a victim was near, the Shadhavar would attack! this carnivorous
unicorn was often thought of as evil.
Physiolous's Unicorn/Dajja
The the Physiolous (literally means the naturalist) described
the unicorn as a small, fierce creature. It has a sharp horn and is very
wild. It can only be captured if a virgin is left in a forest. the
little creature will see her, run to her and lay his head in her lap
where he falls asleep. Then, the hunters may come, capture him and take
him to the king. This picture is often described in Christian art.
However, this is a very different story from the unicorn often seen
before its time (Re'em, Cartagon, Monoceros, etc.). The Physiolous is
known for his fantastical tales, however, these stories seemed to have a
heavy impact on future stories of the unicorn. this is the introduction
of the unicorn as a Christian symbol. Eventually, the unicorn's
obsession with virginity, and later, sexuality, was demonized and the
unicorn came to represent the Christian Devil.
Re'em
Jewish scholars in Alexandria deciphered the word Re'em as
unicorn when they were writing the Septuagint (the first seven books of
the Bible from the Hebrew to Greek as translated by 72 Jewish
Alexandrians over 72 days). The Re'em was mentioned in the Bible and was
translated as the Unicorn. It represents strength, agility and spirit.
This could have also been the Rimu which was the bull of Mesopotamian
art. It is often depicted in profile and looks like it only has one
horn. In the Bible, the Re'em is a mysterious creature, but it was never
clear whether it was specifically supernatural. In later translations,
however, the Re'em is gifted with enormous size and it is said at one
point it is so large it cannot fit on the arc, and is even larger than
the arc itself!
Unicorn from Daniels Dream!
In the book of Daniel in the Bible, there is a dream
described (that Daniel dreamt) relating to a unicorn. Daniel had dreamed
that he was at the River Ulai and by its bank stood a ram with two
horns, one slightly larger than the other. As it stood there it grew in
size each time it breathed in. Then a unicorn appeared and it was shaped
like a goat, complete with the beard, with eyes of deep red in rage. the
unicorn fell into combat with the ram and using it's longer sword-like
horn, knocked the ram into the water where crimson soon after surfaced.
After that the unicorn's horn tipped with blood, began growing in size
and the horn fell off, replaced by four smaller horns. Out of the horns
grew more and more horns until finally they touched the heavens and
stars plummeted in a veil of sparks. The ground was covered heavily with
the dust of comets.
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