Mythical creatures: unicorns

Inspired by nature

People have told stories about unicorns for thousands of years, but what inspired these tales?

'The unicorn is a beautiful beast found throughout the forests of northern Europe. It is a pure white, horned horse when fully grown, though the foals are initially golden and turn silver before achieving maturity. The unicorn’s horn, blood and hair all have highly magical properties. It generally avoids human contact, is more likely to allow a witch to approach it than a wizard, and is so fleet of foot that it is very difficult to capture.'
– Newt Scamander, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them™

For hundreds of years, unicorns were believed to be real animals. Tusks, bones and fossils were traded as their magical horns.

Unicorns of the sea

We now know that the 'unicorn horns' traded across Europe for centuries actually came from a small Arctic whale called a narwhal.

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are toothed whales that live primarily in Arctic coastal waters and inlets. They belong to a family called Monodontidae, which contains two species: the narwhal and the beluga (or white whale).

Male and female narwhals only have two teeth, which are both found in the upper jaw. The male's iconic spiralling tusk is in fact a canine tooth, and it can grow up to three metres (10 feet) in length.

It's also possible that the spiral shape played a big part in informing the way unicorn horns have been depicted from medieval times to today.

Objects thought to be unicorn horns were once valuable treasures owned by rich and powerful Europeans.

Why do narwhals have tusks?

Scientists are still on the fence about the evolutionary purpose of narwhal tusks, however there are a number of theories about their purpose.

'It appears that their tusk has some kind of large-scale sensory function. It could be that it allows them to detect changes in water temperature, salinity or water pressure,' says marine mammal expert Richard Sabin.

Other theories are that male narwhals might use their tusks as a kind of pick to break through or create tunnels in the ice, or that the size of the tusk is a visual indicator used by females for mate selection.

Healing properties

In the early 1700s pieces of 'fossil unicorn' were thought to have healing powers. Medicines made with powdered 'unicorn horn' could be prescribed by doctors or purchased in apothecary shops to treat fevers, epilepsy or the plague.

Today we know these fossilised bones belong to prehistoric animals such as mammoths.

Wands containing unicorn hair

In the wizarding world of J K Rowling, unicorn horn, hair and blood have magical properties. Wands made with unicorn hair are faithful and produce the most consistent magic.

Remus Lupin, Draco Malfoy™ and Ron Weasley™ each carry wands with a unicorn-hair core.