The UnicornThe Unicorn is one of the most well-known mythical creatures. The common view of it is as a pure, white horse with a single pointed horn, usually spiral. The unicorn in older legend was slightly different, having a goat's beard and cloven hooves. These might have been removed over the ages to reflect its image of purity.The ancient Greeks believed unicorns to be real creatures living in India. According to physician and historian Ctesias, their horns could be used to make a drinking cup that would protect against poison. This idea of the unicorn as a healing beast continued and expanded over the years and by medieval times its horn had gained a range of healing powers. It is seen as a proud, solitary figure that can only be befriended by the good and the pure. Many legends say that the unicorn can only be tamed by a virgin. For these reasons the unicorn became associated with the Christian religion and in particular was seen as a symbol for Jesus. The word "unicorn" appears several times in the Christian Bible, however there is some uncertainty over the translation. The unicorn appears as a supporter on some famous heraldic crests, most notably those of Scotland and the UK. In 1982 the Peter Beagle novel "The Last Unicorn" was made into an animated film starring starring the voice of Mia Farrow.
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