Legends
of Unicorns go back for centuries, from ancient China to Greece, India
and Syria. Medieval Europe is full of references and beautiful tapestries
depicting unicorns. These fanciful creatures of old fuel our imaginations
today and our modern renditions reflect the images of old. Unicorns
are even mentioned in the Bible. So did Unicorns ever exist?
Yes, but
not in the way you might think...
In the
Bible, the word translated as Unicorn is "reem" in Hebrew.
The "reem" is thought to be the common word "rimu"
in Biblical lands. The "rimu" was an ancient wild ox that
is now extinct - known to us a the Aurochs.
The
Unicorn Song
Lyrics by Shel
Silverstein - Recorded by The Irish Rovers
A
long time ago, when the Earth was green
There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
They'd run around free while the Earth was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn
There
was green alligators and long necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
The
Lord seen some sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do,
Build me a floating zoo!
And take some of those
Green alligators and long necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
Don't you forget My unicorns
Old
Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started to fall
He marched the animals two by two
And he called out as they came through
"Hey Lord,
I've got green alligators and long necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn
I just can't find no unicorns"
And
Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was falling
Oh, them silly unicorns
There
was green alligators and long necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, "Close the door because the rain is falling
And we just can't wait for no unicorns"
The
ark started moving, it drifted with the tide
The unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
That's why you never see unicorns to this very day
You'll
see green alligators and long necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no unicorns.
