Unicorn trivia | 85 facts about the mythical creature

Unicorns are really famous, mythical creatures, that have a long story hiding behind their reputation.

How many things do we know about them though? If not enough, then let’s dive into their lives a little bit more!

1. The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity.
2. Is has been descrived as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn (its main characteristic) projecting from its forehead.
3. The word ‘unicorn’ comes from Latin. ‘Uni’ is Latin for ‘single’, while ‘cornu’ is Latin for horn. Thus the word unicorn translates to ‘single horn’.
4. The first known depiction of a unicorn was found in the Lascaux Caves of modern-day France.
5. It dates to around 15,000 BCE!
6. But there is a problem: the so-called Lascaux unicorn had two horns, drawn confusingly close together.m m
7. The unicorn was also mentioned by an ancient Greek historian about 2500 years ago.
8. He described the unicorn as a creature with a white body, purple head, and sky blue eyes!
9. Its eyes though has been descibed as purple as well.
10. In general many ancient Greeks mentioned unicorns, including Ctesias, Strabo, Pliny the Younger, Aelian, and Cosmas Indicopleustes.
11. The ancient Greeks wrote about Unicorns, not as part of their mythology, but in accounts of natural history.
12. Of course he mentioned a multivolour horn red at the tip, black in the middle, and white at the bottom.
13. Ancient Greeks believed that unicorns’ horns could cure poisoning or purify the water.
14. The unicorn was depicted in ancient seals of the Indus Valley Civilization.
15. The Bible also describes an animal, the re’em, which some versions translate as unicorn.
16. In European folklore, the unicorn is often depicted as a white horse-like or goat-like animal with a long horn, cloven hooves, and sometimes a goat’s beard.
17. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature.
18. At this era it was a symbol of purity and grace, which could be captured only by a virgin.
19. In the encyclopedias, its horn was said to have the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness.
20. In medieval and Renaissance times, the tusk of the narwhal was sometimes sold as unicorn horn.
21. Narwhal is an actual animal with an actual horn, whereas a unicorn is not a real animal.
22. The throne of the Kingdom of Denmark was made of narwhal horns.
23. The unicorn continues to hold a place in popular culture.
24. It is often used as a symbol of fantasy or rarity.
25. Unicorns are earthbound and do not have wings.
26. The Flying Unicorn species is called the Pegasi.
27. 3. If a Unicorn and a Pegasus mate, the babies may become flying Unicorns.
28. Unicorn horns are called Alicorns.
29. According to urban legends Unicorns live in groups of four or five.
30. The head of the family is an elder Unicorn who is hundreds of years old.
31. Unicorn families spend their lives alone, living in peace deep in the forest.
32. The Unicorn eats grass and hay.
33. Unicorn’s favourite foods are supposed to be long green grass, sweet apples, and sugar cubes.
34. Unicorns absorb energy through their horn.
35. According to mythology, whoever touches a pure White Unicorn, will find happiness and joy in his entire life.
36. The Unicorn is thought to hold the power to divine truth and will pierce the heart of a liar with its horn.’
37. In Chine mythology, a Unicorn is known as a Ki-Lin or Chi-Lin.
38. Chinese believed a Chi-Lin had a very long life and lived up to 1000 years.
39. A baby unicorn is called a sparkle.
40. A US patent was granted for a surgical procedure to create Unicorns in 1980.
41. Unicorns are born with both male and female genitalia.
42. There were pharmacies in London selling powdered Unicorn “horn” in 1741.
43. German dealers even sold a Unicorn ‘horn’ to the pope for a huge amount of money in 1560.
44. Queen Elizabeth was presented with a Narwhal Tusk in 1577.
45. A “Unicorn Horn” was auctioned at Christie’s in London for half million pounds.
46. In his travels, Marco Polo believed he stumbled across unicorns.
47. More specifically he wrote, “They are very ugly brutes to look at. They are not at all such as we describe unicorns.” T
48. In fact, they were actually rhinoceroses.
49. Genghis Khan reportedly decided not to conquer India after meeting a unicorn, which bowed down to him. He viewed it as a sign from his dead father and turned his army back.
50. The King James version of the Old Testament contains nine references to unicorns.
51. This happened due to a mistranslation of the Hebrew word re’em.
52. You can try hunting down unicorns in Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Since 1971, the university has issued permits to unicorn questers.
53. Anyone embarking on such a search is advised to carry a flask of cognac and a pair of pinking shears.
54. Early unicorn heraldry can be found on the ancient seals of Babylonia and Assyria, but it’s most famously attached to Scotland’s King James III in the 1400s.
55. Two gold coins of that era were even known as the unicorn and the half-unicorn!
56. The oldest known unicorn is the Elasmotherium sibiricum,.
57. It is commonly known as the Siberian rhinoceros, and it is a real animal.
58. It lived until around 27,000 BC.
59. It was six feet tall, 15 feet long, and weighed around 9,000 pounds.
60. It is one of the few unicorn breeds that modern science have confirmed the existence of.
61. Unicorn poo is supposed to be  is pink and sparkly.
62. Across the globe, unicorns symbolise purity, elegance, magic and grace.
63. This unicorn light helps you spot unicorns at night.
64. Unicorn burps smell like freshly mown grass.
65. While unicorns are generally known to be white, there are many dark-hair breeds.
66. These dark-hair breeds are thought to have come from Siberia, where actual kinda-unicorns existed once upon a time.
67. On April 9 in the United States, it is National Unicorn Day.
68. In the technology and venture capital world, a unicorn has come to be known as a tech company that is valued at over a billion dollars.
69. For most people, the only unicorns they have seen are Google and Apple.
70. Cups made from a unicorn horn are believed to reveal when a drink has been poisoned.
71. When we mention unicorns related to “real” stuff such as selling their horns, we mean animal unicorns, such as the siberian unicorns, or narwhals.
72. Unicorn cups can still be bought today, although they are not made from a unicorn horn.
73. Many believe that the unicorn is the strongest and wildest of all beasts
74. Unicorns are both very shy and masters of disguise. This is why so few are spotted.
75. Some unicorns are only the size of your hand.
76. A famous wizard of the 20th century, Oberon Zell, was responsible for breeding one-horned goats. He was interested in the initial creation of the unicorn. In 1982, his works were translated into a Hollywood animated film.
77. It is called ‘The Last Unicorn’, and remains one of the most popular unicorn films of all time.
78. The unicorns were a popular symbol in Christian art during the Renaissance, because they were used as symbols of love and purity.
79. It is believed the powder from a unicorn horn is a powerful truth serum.
80. Unlike a wild horse, it is believed that a unicorn can never be tamed.
81. A Jewish legend told a story that showed unicorns were more powerful than elephants.
82. Actually a unicorn managed to… kill an elephant!
83. Is you see a unicorn in your dreams it suggests magical feelings or a wish for more magic and enchantment in your life.
84. It may also indicate that you or someone you know is a person of purity and innocence with high personal standards.
85. Julius Caesar saw once a unicorn in a forest in Germany.