THE UNICORN

        Really existed this mythical animal, similar to a horse, but with only one horn on its head? We heard about it in the Bible and in the writings of the Greek doctor Ctesia who stated, in 416 BC, to had seen one of them in Persia. Afterwards we have the testimony even of Julius Caesar, who had seen some of them during his “Gallic wars” (58/52 BC) in the thick forests of Gaul, today’s France. Then, told us of them also Pliny the Elder in the I century AD in his “Naturalis Historia”. In the Middle Ages people firmly believed in the existence of this mythical animal and even every big kingdom boasted to have its horn in their treasuries. It was true, but probably they were horns of other animals because, also in that times, swindlers were common and the trade of unicorn’s horns must pay a lot, because people thought that they had magic powers, they could cure several diseases and purify polluted sources if they were plunged into water. But it was very difficult to catch it.

They said that this animal was attracted by the smell of virgins (as it was an animal which symbolized purity), so when it came close to their lap, it was possible to capture it. Still in the Middle Ages we heard of unicorns in India and Africa. There is the possibility that people mistook unicorns for animals similar to them, but we can’t exclude the possibility that in the past they really existed. In fact, how much animals are now extinct? Also the panda is a dying species. Probably within 1000 years people will say that it never exist. Even better, maybe not, because by now, in the XXI century, we know photography and cinematography, so will remains some evidences of pandas. But in the Middle Ages this means were not known, so we only have writings and drawings. These were the photographs of that time. So, why don’t take them into consideration?

Translated by Roberta "Nemo85"