The Unicorn was a popular tattoo in the late sixties and through the seventies, no doubt in part to its symbolic representation of a utopian world of peace, magic and spiritual mysticism, where all things are possible. Other popular 'magical' tattoos of that period were dragons, winged horses such as Pegasus and a wide assortment of Wizards, Sorcerers and other Magicians, conjuring up the wide popularity of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The unicorn is a popular creature of our fantasy that symbolizes beauty, mystery, nobility, strength, and a fierce temperament tamable only by pure and chaste maidens.
Beasts of myths and legends usually arise out of human fear, but not the Unicorn. This horsy, one-horned creature (sometimes seen sporting the Billy goat beard) has always been a benign being, if a little fierce, sometimes. The Unicorn came to be associated with sweet maidens, chaste behavior, and the Virgin Mary. The story goes that upon seeing the Virgin Mary, the Unicorn laid its head in her lap. But the Unicorn had previously appeared in the Bible as a wild and untamable beast.
In Medieval lore, only a virgin maiden could tame the Unicorn. As a noble and somewhat mysterious figure, the Unicorn became an emblem of marital fidelity. Not surprisingly, the horn of this beautiful creature was believed to be an aphrodisiac, but capturing one proved difficult, since the Virgin Mary was usually sitting beside him. Not surprising, then, that the Unicorn had a nose for telling who was a real virgin, and who not. Only a true maiden could mount the Unicorn.
Below you will find a gallery of inspirational images that will help you in your quest of creating the perfect unicorn tattoo.
Also Check out: Horses Tattoos.
