When compared to other mythological creatures, the unicorn has become a cultural and commercial powerhouse. Present in Scottish and Celtic folklore, it is fascinating how the perception of the unicorn has changed throughout the centuries to the modern day in a way that other mythical beasts like dragons have been unable to. When discussing mythical creatures in Scotland, everyone knows of the Loch Ness Monster, a creature that remains firmly associated with the country. However, it’s often forgotten that the unicorn is the official national animal of Scotland.
The unicorn was first mentioned in the around 400 BC by Ancient Greek physician and historian Ctesias of Knidos in his text Indica. Ctesias described a horned beast rumoured to be found on Indian subcontinent. Despite appearing in numerous culture’s mythologies throughout history, the unicorn has been an important symbol for Scotland since the medieval period. According to Visit Scotland, it was first used on the royal coat of arms of William I in the 12th Century and later during the 1606 Union of the Crowns, upon the merging of Scotland and England under James I.[1] The unicorn can be seen on many historical sites in cities such as Stirling, Dundee and notably within Scotland’s capital, perched on the entrance of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Often depicted as a wild, fierce animal bound in golden chains, it represented the strength of Scottish royalty. It was believed that kings could wrangle the fierce beast. As well as its masculine symbolism, the association between unicorns and femininity likely began during the Middle Ages when according to popular belief only a virgin maiden could catch a unicorn, calmed by her virtue of purity. The unicorn is often depicted in Renaissance art as calmly sleeping on a young woman’s lap. The golden chains seen on older murals are absent in these images, the unicorn is no longer a beast to be conquered through masculine strength but respects and is respected by the maiden.
The unicorn has become a commercial icon in the modern day, seen on slippers, clothing, and even adopted by corporations such as Starbucks for their Unicorn themed Frappuccino. It is fascinating how a creature once associated with masculine dominance over nature during the Middle Ages is now almost always marketed towards an audience of young girls in the Western world, albeit to sell brightly coloured drinks.
This transformation of beasts from their historical origins to an unrecognisable version of themselves in the modern day is not new. The vampire, which like the unicorn also features in European folklore, underwent changes to its cultural reception. Within myth, and its most famous depiction in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, it was a monster to be feared. Today, the once hideous vampire has been romanticised; the blood-sucking traits that once evoked terror are now often seen as seductive. They are heavily associated with the fantasy romance genre, marketed overwhelmingly to young women. While they do remain a common sight in horror films and TV, the modern vampire possesses a sex appeal that is absent in traditional folklore.
It is worth considering whether mythological creatures in general attract a female demographic as despite the unicorn’s past masculine associations, the animal is a favourite of many young girls. The success of franchises such as My Little Pony have turned the unicorn into a pop culture icon, recognisable even by people who do not fall within the show’s target demographic. The unicorn has diverged from its depiction on Medieval tapestries as being wrangled by strong Scottish kings.
While Celtic mythology imagined them as white due to their associations with purity, unicorns in the modern day are increasingly presented with rainbow manes and tails. Today parents and their children are not concerned with the unicorn’s religious symbolism, and colourful designs prove more appealing and commercially successful. In a 2017 interview with Guardian, Let Toys Be Toys —an organisation that challenges gender stereotypes in children’s toys—suggested that “the craze for unicorns seems to be the latest aspect of princess culture, only ever seen on one side of the toy and clothes aisles”. [2] Thetwo are seemingly a natural fit for one another, sharing similar associations of magic. The unicorn never looks out of place next to the fantasy princess. She is often depicted with her hand placed gently around its neck, the modern image resembling the friendship between the unicorn and the maiden of Middle Age art. I wonder what the long-gone Scottish kings would think of the unicorn now being a favourite of young girls. Perhaps the change in the unicorn’s symbolism from a symbol of masculine dominance to feminine goodness to an inspiring friend of little girls is a natural part of cultural development. Unicorns possess the magical power of transformation, transgressing the boundaries of gender and time, changing to reflect the forms what we want it to represent.
[1] ‘Why is the Unicorn Scotland’s National Animal?’, Visit Scotland <https://www.visitscotland.com/inspiration/culture/national-animal-unicorn>
[2] Fisher, Alison. 15 October 2017. ‘Why the Unicorn has become the Emblem for our Times.’ The Guardian < https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/15/return-of-the-unicorn-the-magical-beast-of-our-times>
[Liberty Holmes, she/her]
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