Unicorn

"It is impossible to take this ferocious beast alive, and all its strength lies in its horn. When it finds itself pursued and in danger of capture, it throws itself from a precipice, and turns so aptly in falling, that it receives all the shock upon the horn, and so escapes safe and sound."

- Cosmas Indicopleustes, Byzantine merchant, 6th century AD

In modern times, unicorns are mostly thought of as kind, gentle creatures appearing in fairy tales or children's fiction. During the Middle Ages, however, they were viewed as untameable wild animals prone to attacking and killing nearly any living thing they came across. Unicorns were so ferocious and strong, it was said, that they were able to impale and carry off elephants on their horns, eventually dying from starvation because they were unable to shake the carcass off.

Unicorns were impossible to be captured alive, and so powerful no human hunter was able to stand against them. In spite of this, unicorn horns were very valuable, since they were able to detect and neutralize any poison. The only way to catch or kill a unicorn was to send in a young, virgin maiden. This would completely throw off the unicorn's defenses, causing it to lay its head in her lap. At this point, hunters would be able to move in and kill the beast.

Some European royalty and nobles owned unicorn horns that they treasured as highly as gold or precious gems. Many of these are likely rhino or narwhal horns, and it is believed that reports of unicorns were likely based on sightings of rhinos.