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Bringing Myths and Legends to Life...
But the unicorn is noble; They scorn the hunter's dart
And what would be the fate of us,
In Japan, people refer to unicorns as "ikkakujuu": i- is a contraction of ichi, which means "one"; kaku means "horn" and juu, "beast." In medieval Christendom the unicorn was endowed with symbolic qualities, both religious and secular. Some early translations of the Hebrew scriptures mentioned the unicorn (modern versions tend to call the same animal a "wild ox"), and as a biblical beast it acquired ecclesiastical associations. It represented chastity and purity. Though it would fight savagely when cornered, it could be tamed by a virgin's touch. Many examples of medieval art including woodcuts, illuminations, and tapestries depict the unicorn, particularly the hunt for it. In some Christian interpretations the unicorn is associated with the Virgin Mary; in others it represents Christ the Redeemer. Unicorns were also popular emblems in medieval heraldry.
Go to: Flight of the Pegasus Check out FantasyCastleGifts.com for
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