INTRO:

Hello and welcome to Myth Monsters, my name is Erin and I’ll be your host for these little snack bite size podcasts on folklore and mythical monsters from around the world. 

These podcasts focus on the actual cryptids, folklore and mythic monsters from global mythology, rather than focusing on full stories of heroes and their big adventures.

I’ll also be dropping in some references that they have to recent culture and where you can see these represented in modern day content so you can learn more, and get as obsessed as I am about these absolute legends of the mythological world.

Firstly, I would love to announce that we hit 3,000 downloads last week and published the 25 official episodes of Myth Monsters! I’m so so chuffed that people actually listen to this and honestly, thank you so much. The Bloody Mary episode was really really popular too, so if you liked this one, let me know and I’ll make sure I cover more ghostly folklore tales like this one.

This week we’re back over in the UK and looking at one of the most famous mythical creatures to come out of the British Isles - included in both our Royal Crest, and as Scotland’s national animal - yes ladies, gents and non-binary folk, we’re looking at Unicorns.

DESCRIPTION:

It’s weird to even consider writing something to describe Unicorns - they’re one of the most well known myth monsters of all time, although calling them a monster is a bit weird as they’re not really anything but friendly to people.

Unicorns are mystical horses, usually depicted as white and pastel, or white and pearlescent with an unmistakable glow and a long horn in the centre of their horsey-foreheads. The horn is said to contain medicinal magic and anti-poison powers, and actually narwhal horns were sold as unicorn horns during the Renaissance era.

Unicorns are stunningly beautiful and often would leave onlookers with gaping mouths in adoration at their very appearance. However, as this podcast just existing proves, they are very elusive - this is apparently due to their horns being incredibly valuable, and their blood was said to hold the key to a longer life (but not immortality). It’s said that unicorns did exist, but were hunted into extinction by hunters in the 18th century

Erin, how can I capture a unicorn? I want one because of reasons, I hear you scream - especially my colleague Ana, who requested this episode.

Well I hate to say it, but unfortunately, if you’re not a virgin - there’s absolutely no chance. Unicorns can only be captured by virgin girls as they symbolise purity, grace and innocence, which apparently cannot be you if you’ve experienced sexy times I’m afraid. Sorry to all those listeners, it’s very sad. The reason behind that is that apparently sin or wickedness scares them away or that they won’t approach anyone who isn’t pure of heart. However, I just think it might just be that young girls are just a bit nicer to horses? Rather than the men of the 18th century who ran around with horns on horses, wielding weapons with intent to kill anything that moves? Hashtag end the patriarchy.

There are more than one type of unicorn - one of which is that of a Pegasus. They’re called Pegasus in a colloquial sense, however, they’re actually called Winged Unicorns. If you remember back in the Gorgons episode, which was 25 episodes, can you believe it?! They’re pretty much the same as usual unicorns, but they have wings and can fly.

I did say that I would touch on Pegasus from Greek mythology in this episode, but he was the son of Poseidon and Medusa - and was a winged horse. Not a unicorn really - but a lot of people associate him with the first unicorn. They were never actually included in Greek mythology, however, only because Greek writers at the time believed that Unicorns existed, but in India - we’ll get onto why India in a bit.

ORIGIN:

Onto etymology - now the word unicorn literally means one horn, it’s not particularly complex I’m afraid - so quite a boring one this week. 

However, it’s origin is a lot more interesting. I have said that we’re back over in the UK but that is only because they have primarily become a massive symbol here and are linked to the UK. However, they were originally brought up by an ancient Indian civilisation, called the Indus Valley Civilisation - where they were originally seen back in the Bronze age! That was 2000BC people - that was like over 4000 years ago, I’m pretty sure anyway - I get confused with the BC and AD things honestly.

We know this because unicorns were featured on a stamp seal, dated from back then with a bovine animal with a horn. And yes, this could be argued that this isn’t a unicorn, it’s a cow in a hat - but let me have this one.

They are also mentioned in the Torah, the Jewish texts, which is an interesting turn for the episode. They were called Re’em, but they were referred to constantly throughout the text as a figure of strength and power - for example; "God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn." or "Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?"

Lastly, they hit European mythology around the middle ages, which if you didn’t know was between 500 - 1500AD. They were seen as they are traditionally, as symbols of virginity - and were very often depicted in the laps of young ladies and also in the lap of the Virgin Mary in churches and religious texts. The unicorns in these were shown as being hunted, which also alluded to the hunting after virgins, which was quite common at the time, but not in the same way that Unicorns were hunted, let's leave it there. 

The Unicorn is featured on the coat of arms of soooo many countries including Hungary, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Nova Scotia in Canada. Most famously, the Lion and the Unicorn arms of the British Royal family - which also features on all of our coin currency and on all Royal addresses and buildings. It’s also the national animal of Scotland, which is why I think it’s important to highlight as to why I chose Scottish or Celtic mythology as this core focus. 

The Scots, apparently as a nation, feel close to the idea of the unicorn due to what they represent. Elusive, beautiful and wild horses - completely untamable and uncontrollable by anyone else. The Scots aligned themselves with the Unicorn back in the mid 1500’s - where the first Scottish coat of arms featured two unicorns holding up the nation’s blue and white crossed flag. Fun fact is that the unicorns are always covered in gold chains, and some say that it’s meant to show the power of the Scottish, showing they could tame the untamable.

When England and Scotland joined in 1603, and King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England - so he replaced one of the unicorns with a lion, which is the national animal of England - I don’t know why, we do not have lions.

If you know anything about folklore, you’ll know that lions and unicorns are mortal enemies and are permanently in a battle for King of Beasts.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: 

Onto cultural significance - for art this week, there are literally so many, the coat of arms themselves are works of art - and there are loads of them! I would have a look at tapestry art firstly, have a looksee at The Hunt of the Unicorn series from 1495, and Wild Woman with Unicorn from 1500. Or if you want more traditional stuff, the most famous painting of a unicorn is Domenico Zampieri’s The gentle and pensive maiden has the power to tame the unicorn from 1604. Or just look at any Tristar movie for a lovely representation of a Winged Unicorn. 

For movies, I’m just going to go over the big ones that I can think of, so you have Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Fantasia, Stardust, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and surprisingly, Cabin in the Woods which is a horror movie. 

For TV, it’s mostly kids tv but you have She-Ra, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Supernatural, Care Bears, Pokemon, Gravity Falls and Star vs the Forces of Evil. 

However, we have to talk about the noughties YouTube phenomenon, Charlie the Unicorn. This debuted on YouTube back in 2005 and was about a unicorn, funnily enough, called Charlie - who really wanted to get to Candy Mountain but turns out, his friends just took his kidneys. All good early internet fun.

For Video Games, we have a few! Including, but not limited to Zoo Tycoon, Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Robot Unicorn Attack, Bayonetta 2, Them’s Fightin Herds, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Persona 5, Peggle, Kid Icarus and Borderlands 2.

I have two book recommendations for this one, now most of the books about unicorns are written for children, and the one I’m about to talk about is no exception. It’s called The Secret Lives of Unicorns by Professor Temisa Seraphini, and it’s a mythical book about the lives and existence of unicorns, as if they are real horses. She does also do a couple more of these books on other mythical creatures, but big idea for you parents out there. 

My adult one would be to have a look at The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales, which has various authors. This is firstly, a gorgeous book just looking at it, but it’s filled with Scottish legends that are prevalent in today’s culture and the rich history of my Scottish brothers and sisters. 

DO I THINK THEY EXISTED? 

Now it’s time for, do I think they existed?

SO this is an interesting one because there is no real concrete proof that Unicorns exist - however, I like to think that there are mystical horses running around forests in Scotland that we haven’t found yet, but realistically I imagine these were just wild horses. Maybe they had sticks on their heads. Maybe they were stags - not sure, but I do struggle to believe these ones are out and about. 

But we do know that there are actual sea unicorns in reality though in narwhals, so is it that far-fetched to think that there is a land version? But I guess, I could say that about anything - I’m not sure what the land equivalent of an octopus is. Oh wait, spiders. Hang on, what about squids - oh god it’s scorpions. Right, this argument is useless - so who knows if we go by my own logic here, unicorns definitely exist.

Either way, they still bring so much magic to kids, and I know I was fully obsessed as a child, so much so that I had a collection of toy unicorns. One of them was a ty teddy and her name was super imaginative, Uni - the unicorn. But honestly, I had about 12 teddies, and I did love my little pony and had a LOAD of unicorns within that collection that my mother accidentally sold at a boot sale a few years ago, not knowing that they are now worth an absolute fortune. Bummer, right? But apparently, if you believe in Unicorns, just like fairies, you keep them alive - so I’ll keep dreaming.

OUTRO: 

I loved this episode, what a fun creature and I love magic and ponies because I am a horse girl - so I thoroughly enjoy these ones. Also, I was a former Harry Potter obsessive too - so it all makes sense in my head at least. I hope you guys enjoyed this too!

Next week, we’re going back down under to look at the legendary cryptid the Yowie from Aboriginal mythology. So hang on to your didgeridoos, and join me in the Outback next Thursday!

For now, thank you so much for listening, it’s been an absolute pleasure. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give it a rating on the service you’re listening on - I’ve got the twitter for any questions, or suggestions on what monsters to cover next and I’d love to hear from you. The social media handles for Tiktok and Instagram are mythmonsterspodcast, and twitter is mythmonsterspod. But all of our content can be found at mythmonsters.co.uk.

So come join the fun and share this with your pals, they might love me as much as you do.

But for now, stay spooky and I’ll see you later babes.