The Scottish Unicorn

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Glasgow Mercat Cross

I once mentioned that Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn. As one or two people expressed surprise I planned to write a post about unicorns, and Becky’s current March Squares challenge has given me just the kick I need. It’s Spiky Squares, and what is it that a unicorn has on its forehead if not a great big spike? And, to coin a phrase, I can gore two challenges with one horn by linking to Cathy’s Photography Theme invitation too!

The unicorn was first used on the Scottish Royal Coat of Arms in the 12th century. That might seem odd given that it’s not real, but it was chosen for its role in Celtic mythology as a symbol of purity and innocence as well as masculinity and power. You can see an example of the Scottish Arms at the end of this post, but before that here are some more spiky unicorn squares I’ve spotted on my travels.

The header image is Glasgow’s Mercat (Market) Cross, which looks ancient but dates from 1929/30. Below are two examples from the University of Glasgow – one atop the Memorial Gates, and the other on the Lion and Unicorn Staircase (the unicorn is on the left). The staircase dates from 1690 and is one of two structures which were moved from the old university site on High Street to its current home in Gilmorehill in 1870.

The next two are both winter events which we’ve attended in Edinburgh in the last couple of years – Ice Adventure and the Chinese Lanterns at the zoo.

Still in Edinburgh, the golden unicorn on the left below adorns the doors of the Queen’s Gallery. The one on the right is from HMS Unicorn in Dundee.

There are two versions of this straw unicorn because I think it’s so beautiful. It’s in Crawick Multiverse, a landscape art site in Galloway.

And finally, this is not my picture, but here’s an example of the Arms of Scotland as used from the 12th century until 1603 when James VI of Scotland updated it after inheriting the English throne.

Sodacan [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
So that’s my quick gallop through Scottish unicorns! Don’t forget to head over to Becky’s blog to see her Spiky Squares, running daily till the end of March, and to Cathy’s blog ~wander.essence~ for lots more travel loveliness.

Scotland, UK ,

90 Comments »

  2. I didn’t know the unicorn was a Scottish emblem. The straw ones are my favourites too. How lovely they look.

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  5. Pingback: Jiminy Cricket, a final gallery of spikes! | The life of B

  9. There is a fantastically surly unicorn in the Royal Coat of Arms in a stained glass window at the museum where I work (the lion he’s with is quite gormless looking, and the unicorn seems genuinely annoyed that he has to spend time with him). I think the straw unicorn is my favourite of the ones you posted.

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  12. The more I plan the more I want to see. I’m finding I need months to visit to see all I want before I kick the bucket. Will definitely have to look you up for info and travel expertise.

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  14. Unicorns everywhere! I never had a clue about them being Scotlands national animal, fascinating stuff. Must remember that now for when we’re back up there in the summer.

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  15. If you guys get independence then I guess the Unicorn will have to go from the UK coat of arms we could replace it with a turkey to represent our current batch of politicians!

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  16. Perfect choice for the spiky theme. I must have missed the post where you mentioned the unicorn before as this seemed new to me. What a lovely creature to have as a part of your history, your art scene, and Glasgow’s present image.

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  18. Nice collection. Inverness has some very prominent unicorns- so much so that I thought of it as the city of the unicorns but they pop up everywhere across Scotland once you get your eye in.

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  23. Pingback: The Scottish Unicorn — The Glasgow Gallivanter

  24. I never knew that, Anabel. Just shows that I hadn’t been paying enough attention to the country north of the English border. 🙂 The straw unicorn is adorable, but my favourite is the Glaswegian statue. He just looks so permanent and indestructible.

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  26. Excellent set, dear Anabel. As for me, I do believe in mythological creatures. Peoples of the past were more honest & expressed what they beheld. Besides, Scottish Highlands are perfect places for creatures alike unicorns. 🙂

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  27. Excellent selection of unicorns. There are a good few unicorns on mercat crosses in Scotland, plus the tapestries at Stirling Castle. I like that the unicorn is our national animal.

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  29. What a great collection of unicorns. My now 11 year old son was obsessed with unicorns for years (he still loves them, just not obsessively) because he saw the tapestries at Stirling castle and was fascinated by the unicorns. He especially loved the one that was using its horn like a drinking straw.

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  30. What a dichotomy the symbolism of the unicorn is, Anabel: purity and innocence as well as masculinity and power! I love the straw unicorn – it’s so beautiful. And the ice and lantern ones are great too.

    Thanks for linking to mine. I’ll be happy to add it to my April 4 post. 🙂

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  31. Hi Anabel – Scottish cheese … now that sounds just about right for a tea-time treat with oat cakes. Love the unicorns though amazing … while the Arms of Scotland are quite amazing. Great photos – and I do love unicorns: you’ve expanded my knowledge … cheers Hilary

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  32. I have always loved horses and the mighty unicorn. I have seen those beautiful tapestries that actually reside in the Cloisters in NYC. The unicorn you show here are so wonderful to see especially the straw ones. I wonder how the artist connected the straw??

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  35. I think our very first Unicorn for Spiky March, and I just love the ones you have found, especially the one made out of straw. That’s just beautiful.

    Your post has reminded me of one of my favourite children’s books – The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. That unicorn though was down in the west country.

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