Unicorn, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
The unicorn was an animal, the horn of which was said to possess healing properties, such as the ability to purify water, neutralise poisons and cure convulsions and epilepsy. This allegory was also associated with the healing power of Christ.
The unicorn symbolises Christ and its horn represents the unity of Christ and God. The story of the virgin capturing the unicorn is allegorically associated with the Virgin Mary conceiving Jesus in her womb without sin. It also represents purity and chastity.
In the King James Version of the Bible, there appear the Hebrew term re’em, often translated as unicorn, but the exact identity of this animal is uncertain and is debated among scholars. In some translations, the terms wild ox or aurochs are used.
This beast is mentioned in Numbers 23:22 (KJV): "God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn". It is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 33:17 (KJV): "His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."
Since hunters are not able to capture the unicorn, legend has it that if a virgin encounters a unicorn, the beast will rest its head in her lap and fall asleep, thus becoming an easy target for the hunters. The slaughter by the hunters represent the Crucifixion whereas the virgin symbolises Mary in whose womb Christ incarnates.
acerrimum nimis. unum cornu habens medio capite.
et nullus venator eum capere potest. Sed hoc argu-
mento capitur. Puella virgo ducitur ubi moratur
et ibi sola dimittitur in silva. At ille mox ut vide-
rit eam; insilit in sinum eius et complectitur eam. Sic et
dominus noster iesus christus est spiritualiter unicornis. de quo
dicitur. Et dilectus quemadmodum filius unicorni-
um. Et in alio psalmo. Exaltabit sicut unicor-
nis cornu meum. Et zacharias. Suscitavit nobis
cornu salutis in domo david pueri sui. Quod autem
unum cornu habet in capite; significat hoc quod ipse
ait. Ego et pater unum sumus. et secundum apostolum
capud christi est deus. Accerrimum autem dicit eum;
quia neque principatus. neque postestates. neque troni.
neque dominationes eum intelligere potuerunt.
nec infernus eum tenere potuit. nec subtilissimus
diabolus eum intelligere aut investigare valu-
it. Sed sola voluntate patris descendit in uterum
virginis propter salutem nostram. Pusillum animal Sic
The unicorn, which the Greeks called ῥινοκέρως/rinokéros1, has this nature: it is a small animal similar to a small goat, is very fierce and has one horn in the middle of its head. No hunter can capture it. It is said that a virgin2 girl is led to where it dwells and is left alone in the forest. As soon as the unicorn sees her, it leaps onto her lap and embraces her. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ spiritually symbolises the unicorn. As for him, it is said: “My Beloved is like the son of the unicorns” (The Song of Songs, 2, 9) and in another psalm: “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn” (Psalm 92:10). Zacharias wrote: “And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David” (Luke 1:69). His having one horn on his head signifies that he himself asserts: 'I and the Father are one.' (John 10:30). According to the Apostle3, the head of Christ is God. He is regarded as very fierce because neither leadership, nor power, nor throne, nor dominions could understand him. Even hell could not hold him, nor could the subtlest Devil understand or investigate him. By the will of the Father alone, he descended into the womb of the Virgin for our salvation. It is called small animal
dicente. Discite a me quia mitis sum et humilis corde. Similis est hedo unicornis; quia ipse salvator factus est
in similitudinem carnis peccati. et de peccato dampna-
vit peccatum. Unicornis sepe cum elephantis certa-
men habet. et in ventrem vulneratum prosternit.
because of the humility of Christ’s incarnation. He himself said: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).The unicorn is similar to a small goat because the Saviour himself became sinful flesh and then condemned and overcame the power of sin. The unicorn often fights with elephants and pierces their belly with its horn, knocking them down."
Bibliography
David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Unicorn, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast140.htm
Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014, Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/
Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino
Matthews, J. and Matthews C., (2010), The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, HarperCollins UK, London
Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)
Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)
Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)
Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)
White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)
Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)
Footnotes
1 The actual translation of unicorn is μονοκέρως/monokéros.
2 Unicorns were often portrayed with virgins in illustrations. A famous fresco probably by Domenico Zampieri, c. 1602 (Palazzo Farnese, Rome), The Virgin and the Unicorn, shows the unicorn sitting on the virgin’s lap. It can be seen here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DomenichinounicornPalFarnese.jpg
3 Paul the Apostle, Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”