Volume 1, Issue 2 June 2023
President’s Welcome W elcome to the second issue of HippoCampus, the digital magazine for members of the Equine History Collective. The EHC has some exciting projects in the works, and at the top of the list is our annual conference, which will take place in hybrid format from September 29-October 1, 2023 at Roger Williams University in beautiful Rhode Island. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Close Encounters of the Equid Kind,’ a topic that should give everyone a chance to think about our relationships and experiences with equids of all sorts. Speaking of equids of all sorts, we decided to give this issue a bit of a theme - Unicorns! This is, in part, because the EHC officers all have a The ‘Dozercorn’ reading up on the weakness for unicorns, but also latest equine history research because we discovered that there is a National Unicorn Day (April 9th, in case you were wondering). So look for some unicorn related content throughout this issue. Finally, the EHC is looking for two new officers to take up the roles of Vice President and Secretary. See the call for nominations in this issue for further info, and please do consider joining our awesome team! We hope you enjoy the issue! Carolyn
In the centuries following Ctesias, unicorns occasionally pop up in classical literature as Aristotle, Caesar, Pliny the Elder, and Aelian all make reference to them: some sources call them a Monoceros, others a Cartazon. Interestingly, however, the unicorn remains a relatively insignificant animal in the Harrapan Seal Stamp of a ‘Unicorn.’ 2600-1900 BCE. Classical tradition. They The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dodge Fund, 1949. don’t appear in Classical art, 49.40.1 Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art the medicinal qualities of their horns are not found in medical texts, and they seem to exist primarily in the realm of natural history texts as a sort of side interest. In other words, they are not viewed as particularly important or culturally significant, but this all changes in the medieval period. The fame of the unicorn grows exponentially in the Medieval world on account of two key factors that lead it to become one of the most important animals in Christian thought, 1. The unicorn appears in some versions of the Old Testament as the translation of the Hebrew word ‘Re’em’ which refers to a wild, horned, aggressive animal. 2. A text called the Physiologus includes an entry on the unicorn which comes to shape the European perception of the unicorn in the following centuries.
What is the Physiologus? It is a really wonderful text that emerges in Late Antiquity. It serves as the bridging point between the Natural History texts of the Classical world and the Medieval Bestiaries, mashing together the natural history tradition and Christian thought/belief. The account of the unicorn given in the Physiologus becomes the foundation for the Bestiaries. The Beastries were a popular Medieval textual tradition that explored the laws of nature through an analysis of different animal but looking at how each animal fit into characteristics of Christian doctrine. Thus, they served as didactic texts about sin and redemption that used animals (both real and mythological) as their models for human behaviour. 'The monoceros, that is, the unicorn, has this nature: he is a small animal like the kid, is Aquamanile in the form of a unicorn. 1425-1450. exceedingly shrewd, and has Metropolitan Museum of Art. Gift of Irwin one horn in the middle of his Untermyer, 1964. 64.101.1493. head. The hunter cannot Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art approach him because he is extremely strong. How then do they hunt the beast? Hunters place a chaste virgin before him. He bounds forth into her lap and she warms and nourishes the animal and takes him into the palace of kings.
The unicorn has one horn because the Savior said, “I and the father are one” [John 10:30]’ • Physiologus 36 The accounts of the unicorn that appear first in the Physiologus, and then in the Bestiaries firmly link the unicorn to Christian symbolism, but also with the right to rule as the unicorn is handed over to the king after its capture. Thus, the unicorn becomes symbolically significant, creating a demand in medieval Europe for products made from its horn. But how could this be possible? Where on earth were so-called ‘unicorn’ horns being sourced? The answer lies in the waters of the Arctic Ocean. The unicorn horns coveted by the churches and aristocrats of Europe came not from a mythological, A pod of narwhals equid-like creature, Photo Credit: Dr. Kristin Laidre, Polar Science Center but rather from the narwhal (Monodon Wikimedia Commons monoceros), a medium-sized toothed whale found in arctic waters off the coast of Greenland. The most distinguishing feature of the narwhal is its tusk, which is actually a tooth (one of the incisors). Typically found on male narwhals, this tusk can grow to great lengths and its spiral shape happens to closely resemble descriptions of unicorn horns. The narwhal tusks left Greenland through Norse traders. Once the tusks arrived in mainland Europe, they transformed from an elongated whale tooth into a rare and expensive
commodity sought after for both ecclesiastical and seigniorial purposes. Thus, ‘unicorn’ horn products could be found in churches and cathedrals, as well as the private collections of wealthy individuals. An example of an ecclesiastical can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum – a carved 12th century ceremonial or processional staff measuring 1.7m in length. The connection between unicorns and authority is evident through two famous artifacts: the 15th century ‘ainkhürn’ schwert (unicorn sword) of Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy which has a pommel, hilt, and scabbard set with ‘unicorn’ horn (Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna), as well as the Coronation Chair at Rosenborg Castle in Denmark. Made in 1671, this throne is the physical representation of the throne of Denmark, its legs and spokes are made from ‘unicorn’ horns. The protective qualities of the unicorn horn which are first mentioned in the Classical sources endure through the Medieval period. By the 14th century there was a general belief that unicorn horns and products made from them could be used to detect and neutralize poison. Thus, they were sought after for the dining tables of the elites. One such object is the Danny Jewel (c. 1550, Victoria and Albert Museum). This is a gold and enamel pendant with a ‘unicorn’ horn center. The wearer could dip the pendant directly into liquid to test for poison; however, the scratched The Coronation Chair, used between surface on the back of the pendant 1671-1840. Photo Credit: Sven Rosborn Wikimedia Commons
suggests that shavings of the horn were scraped off and used to make a powder which could be sprinkled onto food or into drinks as well. Key to the success of the unicorn horn trade was the remote location of its source. The target audience of the products were unlikely to ever encounter a unicorn (i.e., a narwhal) in person. The complexities of the supply chain that transported the horn from the arctic to the courts and cathedrals of Europe ensured that many people would have no idea that the narwhal even existed. An exception to this is the Throne of Denmark, as Denmark had direct influence over the arctic waters, and it is likely the King and his court knew where the ‘horns’ on the throne came from, however, it was to their advantage to claim them as unicorn horns as it reinforced the market and demand for products. That is the thing about fabulous and fantastical creatures – they tend to exist on the periphery of society and communities, as that makes them far more difficult to encounter and verify. So what happens when a person comes face- to-face with such a creature and it doesn’t live up to expectations? While, to discover this we can head east with Marco Polo who encountered a An Indian rhino in Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, India. unicorn on this Photo Credit: Dr. Satyabrata Ghosh travels and was Wikimedia Commons most disappointed as he describes in
book 6 of his Travels ‘They have the hair of a buffalo and feet like an elephant’s. They have a single large, black horn in the middle of their forehead… They have a head like a boar’s an always carry it stooped towards the ground. They spend their time by preference wallowing in mud and slime. They are very ugly to look at. They are not at all such as we describe them when we relate that they let themselves be captured by virgins…’ Of course, what Marco is looking at is an Indian rhino, animals that are known to wallow in the mud and water to escape the intense heat of the subcontinent. Although his disappointment in its appearance is rather humourous, it is also a reminder that the mythological creatures found in traditions around the world are often, at least in some small part, inspired by aspects of reality.
‘Von dem Einhorn’ (‘About the Unicorn’) By: Lonneke Delpeut In 1610, an encyclopedia-like volume was published in Heidelberg, entitled Thierbuch: Das ist Außführliche beschreibung und lebendige ja auch eigentliche Contrafractur und Abmahlung aller Vierfüssigen thieren, so auff der Erden und in Wassern wohnen by Conrad Gessner. This roughly translates to Animal book: an extensive description and lively even actual depiction and representation of all quadruped animals living on earth and in water. It was published after the author had already passed; originally in Latin, and later translated to German. From the same author a bird-book and a fish-book have appeared. I first saw this book in the monastery of Seitenstetten in Austria, where we got a tour of the library. When our guide took this book off the shelf to show to us, I asked her if there was an entry for a unicorn. My colleagues laughed and were rather skeptical, but the lady smiled and said, “yes there is!”, of course to no surprise to any of us. I found the entry so fascinating that I wanted to share some highlights with you. The book is Seitensetten Abby’s Library digitized, and can be Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Climbing up to Catalina’s Airport in the Sky by horseback Photo Credit: Kathryn Renton There’s also a unique horse history to Catalina. In a secluded area in the center of the island, a private ranch and stables still stands. The island had once been privately owned by William Wrigley, founder of the Wrigley Gum company, and the ranch was a passion project of his son and daughter-in- law, Philip and Helen Wrigley. Inspired by the desert island landscape and the new interest in both Palomino and Arabian horse breeds in the early 20th century, this ranch became an early experiment in breeding Arabian horses from the 1930s to 70s. El Rancho Escondido, private ranch formerly owned by Philip and Helen Wrigley Photo Credit: Kathryn Renton
Philip had purchased the Arabian stallion Kaaba from a neighbor in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Albert W. Harris) as a wedding gift for his wife, and later brought him to Catalina for breeding their own horses. They had started by breeding a few local island horses presumably feral from past ranching and riding endeavors, but eventually developed their own plans for breeding and training registered Arabians as working cattle horses. Tobi Lopez Taylor wrote a short article on how the Wrigleys became part of the first Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show here: https://issuu.com/ arabianhorseassociation/docs/ arabian_horse_life_magazine__issue_1_2020/46 Arabian stallion, Kaaba, arriving to Catalina Photo Credit: Catalina Island Museum There’s a whole lot more to the story still to be told – if anyone is interested in discussing a more in-depth version and available sources for a full article or exhibition, reach out to [email protected]!
Sun, Surf, and Sporthorses: A Report on the 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach By: Christian Krueger South Beach is home to a multitude of smells—some more pleasant than others— but only once a year do the aromas of sea brine and mojitos mingle with those of freshly shampooed An Atlantic sunrise by the Global Champions Lounge entrance early horses and Sunday morning. manure. The occasion? The Photo Credit: Christian Krueger Miami Beach leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour. Miami Beach, the second of 16 locations across the world, hosted this spectacular jumping competition
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