It was believed that the mysterious creature could only be lured into captivity by a virgin. Additionally, these stories described the fabled unicorn hunt. These myths included the curative properties of the unicorn’s horn, or alicorn, from detecting and counteracting poisons to curing fevers, delaying signs of aging, and serving as an aphrodisiac. Unicorns, in all of their forms, were regularly featured in these tomes, and discussions of their magical powers often trumped reports on natural evidence. The bestiary, a popular form of anecdotal treatise on both real and mythical animals, dates back to documentary traditions from ancient Greece. The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony Basilius Valentinus, 1685ĭamon Collection of Occult and Visionary Literature, John Hay Libraryīridging the scholarly and symbolic, medieval representations of the unicorn come from natural philosophers in the Middle Ages who compiled encyclopedic volumes on the animal kingdom, believing the study of nature to be the gateway to religious understanding. But if the circle be composed of some envenomed substance, the spider will have no difficulty in crossing the line…
Place a live spider inside a circle formed by a strip of the skin of an unicorn, and you will observe that the spider will not be able to pass.
According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, as late as 1789 the court ceremonial of France used instruments supposidly made from such horns for testing whether royal food contained poison (Volume 27, page 582).…the body of an unicorn, which is entirely free from poison, repels every poisonous thing. One medieval legend states that the horn of unicorns, if they touch the pool the animal is drinking from, renders the waters pure and sweet. For example, in Isaiah 34:7, the word is translated 'oxen' in the NCV, 'wild oxen' in the NIV, NASB and others, and 'reems' in the YLT.
Modern translations also vary in the way they translate the Hebrew word rame used for unicorns. They state it could be an extinct wild bull called the auroch (Barnes), a rhino (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown), a wild buffalo or ox (Keil & Delitzsch), a wild goat (Wesley) or even an antelope (Bullinger's notes). What could it be?īiblical commentaries vary widely regarding what they think is the animal referenced as unicorns is actually referencing. It is more than a coincidence that this legendary animal, symbol of God's special blessing, found its way into the national symbol of the United Kingdom. Ephraim migrated to what is today England. These tribes (commonly referred to as the lost tribes of Israel) migrated to several European countries after the Babylonians conquered Assyria in 612 B.C. Many years after this prophecy was given, ten of Israel's twelve tribes were conquered by the Assyrians and taken captive. These beasts can also represent the prophesied glory and power to come upon the descendants of Joseph (through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh - Deuteronomy 33:16 - 17). Īnd the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls and their land shall be soaked with blood. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations.
In Isaiah 34, they symbolized the Eternal's judgment on the world for its sins.Ĭome near, ye nations, to hear and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein the world, and all things that come forth of it.
In Numbers 23:22 and 24:8 these animals symbolize the power of God to deliver his people. They possessed at least one horn (Psalm 92:10) and quite possibly two (Deuteronomy 33:17, Psalm 22:21). They could not be trusted (Job 39:12) and were known for being untamable (Job 39:9). This animals were known to be strong and fierce (Numbers 23:22, 24:8, Job 39:11).