Unicorn Of Scotland - A National Scottish Symbol. What says 'magic' more loudly than choosing the mystical and powerful Unicorn of Scotland as the country's National Animal?
A country's 'National Animal' should represent the best, and defining, qualities of the nation who chose it. Scots have a strong sentimental streak under that practical and reserved exterior, and Scottish culture is rich in superstitions, myths and legends. So, choosing a heraldic symbol as awe-inspiring as the unicorn makes perfect sense! Chances are you don't know too much about this fantastic creature, so let's start there. (But if you want to jump straight to how, when & why it was chosen CLICK HERE) Unicorns Abound In History & Legend The stories and legends surrounding the Unicorn go about as far back in history as the human race. These beautiful creatures were worshiped by the ancient Babylonians, and written descriptions of them appear throughout ancient history, and as early as the first century AD.
Click on image to buy or browse Unicorn qualities included: The History of the Unicorn - from our point of view. Why is Scotland's national animal a unicorn. The Unicorn: I. The Heraldic Unicorn. Sacred Texts Miscellaneous Index Previous Next Buy this Book at Amazon.com The Unicorn, a Mythological Investigation, by Robert Brown, [1881], at sacred-texts.com p. 1 THE science of Heraldry has faithfully preserved to modern times various phases of some of those remarkable legends, which, based upon a study of natural phenomena, exhibit the process whereby the greater part of mythology has come into existence.
There we find the solar Gryphon, 1 the solar Phoenix, 2 'a demi-eagle displayed issuing from flames of fire,' 3 the solar Lion, and the lunar Unicorn, which two latter noble creatures now harmoniously support the Royal Arms. P. 2 Dallaway conjectures that 'the tester or armour for horses’ heads in the centre of which a long spike was fixed, suggested the idea of a beast so defended p. 3 by nature.' p. 4 The Gryphon, it may be observed, appears in the Roll as a Charge:— p. 5. The Coming of the Unicorn: Scottish Folk Tales for Children by Duncan Williamson: Undiscovered Scotland Review. The Coming of the Unicorn by Duncan Williamson is a wonderful collection of Scottish folk and fairy tales for children.
The stories are beautifully told and perfectly written to be read aloud to the small child or children in your life. What is especially nice is that although these are stories with many familiar "folk tale" elements, they also have a freshness and originality which really keeps you turning the page. Unicorn (coin) Scottish "unicorns" from the reigns of James III (top left) and James IV (bottom right)
Gold unicorn of James III, king of Scotland. Legends. "...I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, Lions with toils and men with flatterers; In Chinese mythology, the Unicorn was an animal of good omen that came to humans only on important missions.
Its appearance was interpreted as a sign of good times, and the fact that it has not been seen in many centuries suggests that we are living in "bad" times. It will appear once again when the time is right and when goodness reigns. One of the first Unicorns is said to have appeared almost 5,000 years ago to give Emperor Fu Hsi the secrets of written language. Then, almost 4,700 years ago in 2697 B.C., another Unicorn made an appearance in the garden of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di). The Heraldry Society. Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. British Royal Coat of Arms and Motto. The Official Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland The coat features both the motto of British Monarchs: (God and my right) The Lion and the Unicorn - Alice in Wonderland Wiki. The Lion and the Unicorn. The lion and the unicorn as they appear on both versions of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom.
In the Scottish version (shown right) the two have switched places and both are crowned, and the lion on top is coloured red. Nursery rhyme[edit] The traditional legend of enmity between the two heraldic animals is recorded in a nursery rhyme which has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 20170. The Lion and the Unicorn rhyme. List of unicorns. This is a list of unicorns in modern popular culture: References[edit] See also[edit]
