Unicorns need a better image methinks. Unicorns get no respect. Guys aren’t typically willing to touch a unicorn with a ten-foot-pole. Unicorns were once thought of as regal and powerful as I think they should. Now they’ve been reduced to being a thing for “little girls”. I find it to be a sad state of affairs.
Unicorns can be cool. Not only do they look great, but they’re just plain awesome. It’s like a horse, but better. They’re magical - okay it varies… sometimes they heal you, sometimes they are resistant to magic, etc. But whatever the case, you probably shouldn’t disrespect a unicorn, it’ll stick you with that horn - it’s a weapon dang you!
So, how did this happen anyways? How did such a cool creature end up being thought of so poorly? And when did they start to be seen as “girly” anyways?
THe unicorn isn’t so badly thought of, it has befallen the poor creature, to be placed in the path of overt commercialism. The most fearsome sort of thuggery, the making of the “all mighty dollar”. Since the Unicorn is as mythical as the Dragon, we have no fear that it’s silver reputation shall be tarnished
At least a significant fraction of the population has a notion of what would be a unicorn (or dragon, though they’d probably get the Western and Eastern versions mixed up). But try finding any fans of griffins…
Jay Leno, on an episode of Top Gear, makes a comment that the automobile saved the horse for people who love horses.
But, I think you’ll find that most horse lovers are women. Men moved on with cars and love those.
Previous to and including the 19th century, a horse was a major and functional possession of the family, and so within the domain of men. It was a beast for hauling stuff and war, and other manly pursuits. A magical horse would just be even more manly.
These days, a horse is for looking beautiful and being warm and cuddly. A magical horse is just going to be moreso.
Griffins used to be my favorite mythical animals - the only one I really fantasized about having as a kid - what a great means of transportation and terrorizing my enemies, while still being cuddlier than a fire-breathing dragon.
As has been mentioned, the idea that unicorns could be timed by virgins goes back several hundred years. I always felt it made them seem a little lame.
When I was younger I hadn’t thought much of it, but later I started to think it made unicorns sound a little pervy. They hide out in the woods avoiding people unless that it’s a girl who is also a virgin. Sounds a little suspicious. Like dirty old hobos hiding in the woods.
Personally I think that any fantasy creature has a wide open field these days with the over saturation of vampires. Perhaps it’s time for a book targeted to teenage girls featuring a romance between a mary sue and a sparkling unicorn.
ETA: That lion in that tapestry is completely embarrassed to be there.
