Are living Unicorns mentioned in any respected works of authoritative literature?

mibmob

I don't know what you mean by *living* ones - as opposed to dead ones? http://home.swipnet.se/~w-59099/maskrosbarnen/Unicorn/Unicorn.htm might help. Apr 24 02, 3:12 PM

Baby Smack

'Living'(Real Animals)--as opposed to 'Fake'(Fictional Animals). Apr 24 02, 3:18 PM

Siskin

Unicorns are mythical beasts and as such will not be mentioned as living creatures. Makes good fairy tales,though! Same category as dragons and mermaids - exist in wonderful imaginations,unless of course someone knows differently.... Apr 24 02, 4:06 PM

Jac

The fact they're mythical wouldn't necessarily stop them being referred to seriously in works of otherwise accurate literature. The 'edge of the world', 'dragons', 'baby-eating cannibals' and other non-true stories turn up in earnest and apparently truthful accounts written at many times by many people, so it's not inconceivable that someone will have written earnestly about unicorns. I don't know a particular source but I wouldn't rule it out. Apr 24 02, 4:43 PM

Jac	Brewer's Phrase and Fable gives 'the earliest author that describes it is Ctesias (400BC)' and a quote from a French 'Divine Bestiary' of the 13th century. It is not stated whether either of these state definitively that it's a mythical beast. Apr 24 02, 4:46 PM

Jac	Ok, Ctesias was an historian and believed what he was {saying;} Aristotle and others also wrote about it. http://www.unicorn-dream.co.uk/unicorn2.html Apr 24 02, 4:50 PM

Siskin

Baby Smack is quite clear in asking about 'living' unicorns.Mythical means exactly that. Jac - Had a look in Brewers which gives this beast as having - the legs of a buck,the tail of a lion,the head and body of a horse,and a single horn,white at the base,black in the middle,and red at the tip in the middle of its forehead.The body is white,the head red and eyes blue. I think the solution is for Baby Smack to decide for his/her self.Agreed? Apr 24 02, 6:45 PM

Jac

If you read that site I listed (apparently twice which is very odd), you'll see that the early references are clearly to 'living' creatures - whether they are credible accounts is another matter. But Ctesias, Aristotle etc clearly believe that these creatures are genuine living animals, they don't view them as mythical. The Biblical reference is also explained if you read that site. Apr 24 02, 8:30 PM