Unicorns, Myth or Reality?

We are told from the time we are kids that unicorns are mythical creatures, a result of a child’s fanatical imagination. But what if it isn’t? Who are we to believe when it comes to the question “Are unicorns real or not?” IF, and that’s a big if, they are a mythical creature, why are unicorns Scotland’s national animal? Why have they been depicted archeologically since 3300 BC?

Every time I bring it up to friends or family, they think I’m crazy no matter how much I try to persuade them otherwise.

Unicorns were first depicted in the Indus Valley Civilization, which by the way was between 3300 BC–1300 BC, in South Asia. There are also written Chinese accounts around 2700 BC, as well as Greek literature in 400 BC.

In the ancient Greek bestiary, Physiologus, unicorns are described as fierce animals that can only be caught if a virgin woman is placed before them.

The unicorn story that is most widely known is the European one of a white horse with a strong body and a spiraled horn growing out of its forehead. It was believed that the unicorn could cure many sicknesses and purify water among other things. But there are so many other unicorn stories that originated from all over the globe.

I have a hard time believing it is a mythical creature when there is evidence about them from places that were closed off from the rest of the world and yet still have unicorns drawn out or written down in what is classified as "mythology" stories.

The Chinese unicorn I mentioned earlier describes them as a creature with the body of a horse, the head of a Chinese dragon, fish scales along its body, and one long horn that looks like the antlers of a deer. They were seen as a good omen and  as a symbol of fertility. It was said they didn’t want to harm the ground so when they walked, they didn’t disturb a single blade of grass.

The African unicorn is called an abada, instead of having one long horn like other unicorns, the abada has 2 crooked horns, that act as an antidote to poisons. It’s the size of a small donkey with the tail of a boar.

Many people believe that foreign explorers would spot animals they are unfamiliar with such as the rhino or narwhal and believe these to be unicorns. I, on the other hand, believe that unicorns being a “magical” species are just very well adapted to avoiding human contact. I mean come on, the first time they are mentioned was almost 5000 years ago, don’t you think they would learn over time not to trust humans? Every time humans discover something new, they try to capture, study, and experiment on whatever is.

I like to lean into the theory that they are enjoying themselves somewhere away from prying eyes, free to roam whatever lands they have landed themselves in. Who knows maybe they are in another realm entirely and just came to visit us at different times in history. We may never know but I’m going to keep believing in the unknown, there’s a lot of it out there.