Explainer: from bloodthirsty beast to saccharine symbol - the history and origins of the unicorn
- Written by Jenny Davis Barnett, Academic in French, The University of Queensland
Domenichino's A Virgin with a Unicorn. Artists of the Middle Ages believed the unicorn could only be captured by a virgin.Wikipedia Commons
The unicorn is an enduring image in contemporary society: a symbol of cuteness, magic, and children’s birthday parties.
But while you might dismiss this one-horned creature as just a product for Instagram...