What Country's National Animal Is A Unicorn

Did You Know That Scotland's National Animal Is The Unicorn?

Unicorn of Scotland and red lion rampant on the medieval scottish stone wall

The unicorn is a legendary animal that finds mention in the ancient seals of the Indus Valley Culture, in the writings of ancient Greeks, in numerous European sociology tales, and, according to some, fifty-fifty in the Judeo-Christian Bible. The description of the unicorn in the various writings and folklore allows 1 to imagine a white equus caballus-like or goat-like animal with a long, pointed, spiraling horn, and cloven hoofs. The unicorn is often regarded as a symbol of purity, joy, innocence, and grace, and as a creature with mystic powers that tin can heal sickness and pain by virtue of its magical horn. Scotland has adopted the unicorn every bit it's national beast.

The Unicorn in the History of Scotland

Several creative works from the Medieval Period describe the unicorn, wherein this beast is oft used to announce the sanctity of virgins, including the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Equally per a popular proverb of this menstruum, only virgins have the adequacy to capture a unicorn, as these freedom-loving creatures go and then enthralled by the virtue of a virgin maiden that one will surrender itself to the maiden, and willingly fall asleep in her lap. The non-Christian, Celtic mythology of Scotland during this period also gave recognition to the beauty, freedom, courage, and purity of the unicorn.

Soon, the Unicorn had been adopted equally an iconically Scottish symbol. An early version of the Scottish Glaze of Arms bore the symbol of this mythical creature in the 12th century, while during the rule of King James Iii of Scotland in the latter half of the 15th century, Scottish golden coins featured the image of a unicorn on them. Originally, at that place were images of ii unicorns, ane holding the Saltire and the other the Lion'south Rampant. However, the unification of Scotland with England led to the replacement of one unicorn past a lion, with the latter representing England. Currently, the Royal Coat of Arms depicts an image of a Scottish Unicorn to the left, bearing the flag of St. Andrews, and an English lion, bearing the flag of St. George, on the right.

Appearance of the Scottish Unicorn

The Scottish Unicorn is depicted equally a creature with a white, horse-similar head and trunk, and a white mane and the cloven hooves of a goat. Information technology has a tufted tail like a lion, and, of class, the feature unicorn atypical horn arising from the superlative of its brow. In recognition of the dangerous beauty of the wild unicorn, it is likewise bounded by a golden chain, which is often seen passing through its neck and wrapping all effectually its body.

Why the Unicorn?

Western Civilizations believed in the existence of the unicorn for about ii,500 years. The first scientific theory disproving the existence of these creatures was presented in 1825 by scientist Baron George Covier, who claimed that an animal with a cloven hoof must also be in possession of a cloven skull, rendering the existence of a single horn every bit biologically impossible. In afterwards years, an experiment conducted past Dr. Westward. Franklin Dove in 1900 led to the creation of a one-horned bull induced by the artificial fusion of the horn buds of a calf. Withal, the still ongoing absenteeism of a creature in nature meeting the description of a truthful unicorn has led about scientists to disbelieve in the existence of this creature.

Why, then, has Scotland adopted, and continued to employ, a mythical animate being as its national animal? Mayhap the tales of authorisation and chivalry associated with the unicorn overpower the scientific facts of its being, leading to its choice as a national symbol. There are tales describing how a unicorn visits a h2o body poisoned past a snake and purifies the water by dipping its horns into it, rendering the water safe for other creatures. Thus, the creature symbolizes goodwill and positivity. Besides, the existence of the creature has not been completely negated, and debates proceed to rage on regarding its presence in the past, or even the present, biological globe of brute.

The unicorn appears to exist an ultimate animal, endowed with the many of the best qualities possible for any animate being, and hence it continues to be the National Animal of Scotland, and many Scottish proudly accept it as such.