Ükssarvik võlumetsas = Unicorn in the magical forest

Abstract

"A unicorn is a mythical, mysterious and sacred animal who has had, in the course of centuries, different roles in folklore and mythology as well as in noble courts, even in serious scholarly writing. Today it belongs to the world of fantasy and popular culture, but a few hundred years ago people believed that it truly existed. Who is the unicorn and why does it occur in the form of a beautiful horse? This book examines the meaning of the unicorn through history and shows unicorns on objects and works of art from the 16th to the 21st century. Rare Early Modern Period royal artefacts from the Swedish Royal Armoury reveal the symbolic meaning and use of images of the unicorn during the period when the kings of Sweden ruled over Estonia and Livonia. The works from the Estonian collections introduce the local presence and significance of the unicorn. Today, however, the unicorn has acquired new layers of meaning, featuring as a character in fantasy literature and children’s animations, symbolising freedom and love and standing for successful start-ups valued at over a billion dollars." -- Provided by publisher.