The myth of the unicorn is theorized to have stemmed from many actual, real animals. One of them is the rhinoceros, as described by Marco Polo. Another animal believed to be linked to the origin of the unicorn myth is quite an odd one – the narwhal. Like the unicorn, this whale has a long spiraling horn protruding from its head, though it’s actually a tooth in the case of the narwhal. In medieval times, narwhal teeth were sometimes sold as genuine unicorn horns.
Today, unicorns continue to be enduring symbols, found on heraldry and coat-of-arms of various countries, including Scotland, Lithuana, Switzerland and Germany. It is often depicted in films and television shows,
The unicorn has also been adopted as a symbol by the LGBT+ community.
National Unicorn Day is celebrated around the world on April 9th.
