• DateMay 1, 2018
• Categories
  • Information

Did you know that the national animal of Scotland is the unicorn? It is. Really. You can google it if you don’t believe me. Why in the world would Scotland choose such an unlikely and mythical

creature to represent it? Scotland has a rich history of stories of the extraordinary and oddities. If you’ve looked into the mythology of Scotland you know it’s full of fantastical creatures. So the unicorn is not that odd of a choice.

Around the world the basic symbolism of the unicorn is purity and grace. It also is considered an animal of power.

One story about the unicorn is that it is in an endless struggle with the lion to try to determine who will be the king of the beasts. This pairing of rivals dates back 3500 BC to ancient Babylonia. King William 1 used the unicorn on the royal coat of arms in the 12^th century. English kings had been using the symbol of a lion for hundreds of years.

No one can say for certain, but it is very plausible that the Scottish monarchy chose the unicorn because of the story of the lion and unicorn. The battle for Scotland’s freedom from England is still raging to this day.

Another interpretation is that the unicorn is a super powerful creature, but it will use its power to help others of the animal kingdom instead of trying to dominate them. One story shows a snake poisoning a watering hole; the unicorn purifies the water so other animals will not be harmed by the actions of the snake. This could be seen as Scotland allying with other countries rather than trying to dominate them. You can see this in the Auld Alliance made with France in 1295.

So deep is the creature embedded in Scottish identity, that King James III placed it on gold coins in the 15^th century.

You can still see the unicorn representing Scotland on the royal coat of arms of the UK. It is holding up half of a shield. There used to be two unicorns on the coat of arms of the Scottish monarchy, but James VI of Scotland replaced one with a lion when he became James I of England and Ireland in 1603, which is very similar to the current coat of arms.

The depiction of the Scottish unicorn on the royal coat of arms shows the beast wrapped in gold chains. In many stories it is said that the unicorn cannot be tamed, but a virgin maiden can placate the beast. Another interpretation is that only someone of Scottish royal blood may have the power required to subdue and capture the glorious animal.

If you love the unicorn, know that this symbol is steeped in Scottish history and is an important part of the identity of Scotland and its people. Wear and use this symbol with pride and be independent. Let no one tell you, you are less than the amazing person you are.

You can peruse what we have with this majestic mythical beast here:

Unicorn Items