Unicorns are a mythical creature that has journeyed through the ages with humankind. Wherever people are, there is usually at least one story involving a horse with a single horn. But there is a discrepancy in whether Unicorns have wings or not.
Humans like to categorize things in perfect little boxes that fit our sense of logic and reason.
So, it may be difficult for some to accept that No, traditional Unicorns do not have wings. Although a variant of the Unicorn called “Alicorn” does have wings.
Evidence from worldwide ancient cultures has tales and legends surrounding such fantastical horses.
Understanding Differences | What Is a Unicorn With Wings Called?
That said, Unicorns stop being Unicorns if wings are present and become a new classification all together. A winged Unicorn is an “Alicorn.” But there are many other names created to combat the confusion.
Many claim a “Pegasus” is a winged Unicorn, but this isn’t true and a conflagration of history and mythology.
It is important to conceptualize the differences between an Alicorn, Pegasus, and a Unicorn. The Unicorn is a terrestrial creature with a horn.
Pegasus is a horse with wings that comes only from Greek mythology and does not have horns. An Alicorn is a hybrid of both a Pegasus and a Unicorn, having both wings and a horn.
Can Unicorns Fly Without Wings?
Also, this is the same for flights. Traditional Unicorns cannot fly. Only Alicorns can take flight.
Traditional Depictions & History
Many try to say that classic Unicorn images never had wings; that this idea is a modern one. But there are estimations of their existence as far back as 2500 years ago, with the first documented sightings in the 6th Century BC.
Some tales paint them in a positive light but most depict them as harbingers of doom and gloom. If you see one, chances are, problems will follow. This association doesn’t come without precedent.
Ancient Assyrian seals have images of winged Unicorns, representing both dark and light when contrasted with a winged bull. In the 1907 play, “Unicorn from the Stars,” an Irish poet named W.B. Yeats wrote about a winged Unicorn portraying fervent carnage.
Many people reported seeing an Alicorn in the weeks leading up to the Ottoman Empire’s siege of Byzantium in 1453. As history has revealed, this invasion led to the ultimate demise of the Byzantine Empire.
Etymology of Alicorn
The word “Alicorn” comes from the Italian “Alicorno” and the Latin “Unicornis” meaning “Unicorn” or it refers to the horn of a Unicorn in and of itself. Some have suggested that “Ali” means “flying” from the Arabic word for “most high” while “corn” means “horn.”
The animated TV show “My Little Pony” popularized the use of the word “Alicorn” in 1984. It is a distinct reference to winged Unicorns and has stuck in collective popular culture for decades.
To mitigate confusion and create a standard for the name of a winged Unicorn, there are combinations like “Unipeg,” “Pegacorn” or “Unicus.” For our discussion, we will refer to them as “Alicorn.”
The Life of an Alicorn
When Alicorns are born, they come with small, fluffy appendages for wings and a tiny horn. They cannot fly or perform magic until they are much older.
Like Unicorns, they grow at a slow pace with their wings expanding at a much faster rate than their bodies. This imbalance often causes them to trip over themselves.
Horns & Wings
When the wings become proportional to the body, the Alicorn can then begin strengthening its flying muscles. They get this strength by running with other horses, Pegasi, and Unicorns. When they first experience flying, it’s a rather discombobulated and clumsy event. But this activity activates their powers of enchantment.
Their horns develop full magical capacity when they’re able to fly. The more confidence they develop, the stronger their powers become. This is because they like to play amid lightning, which replenishes their powers.
What these magical abilities are, one can only guess as there is not much information available. But some speculate Alicorns can negate poison, purify water, whiten teeth, increase desire and cure any disease. Having both wings and a horn means they not only have a strong connection to lightning but also have the capacity to heal.
This is an old belief stemming from Unicorns. It’s more than likely the reason why Queen Elizabeth I and Emperor Matthias of Austria had Alicorn scepters.
Even King Frederick III of Denmark and Charles the Bold had both a sword hilt and scabbard made of Alicorn. But it is unclear if these items came from the horn of a Unicorn or an Alicorn.
Food & Social Activity
As do their Unicorn and Pegasi parents, Alicorns can eat rainbows and golden apples grown in sacred groves.
Alicorns gather in herds for companionship and protection. But when they become of mating age, the males will battle each other over a potential female. When they collide, lightning forms.
You can tell this is happening when lighting strikes between clouds and doesn’t touch the earth.
Temperament
Alicorns love to play and frolic, especially in thunderstorms. But they are also prone to battle and have an inherent sense of true justice. They can also be very stubborn and headstrong.
Life Expectancy
Alicorns aren’t immortal like Unicorns but they do live for a very long time. A one-year-old Alicorn is equal to 75 human years. They can live up to 100 years old or about 10,000 years in human time.
As Alicorn gains in age, they cannot renew their magic like a battery unable to maintain a positive charge. When this happens, five or more other Alicorns perform a ceremony that involves opening a pathway of retirement. No one knows what occurs after that.
Understanding the Alicorn Allegory
As you can see, knowledge of Alicorn’s existence far exceeds modern times. Although closely related to Unicorns and Pegasi, they have powers and behaviors that belong only to them.
But catching sight of an Alicorn may not be as positive of an omen as a Pegasus or Unicorn. Their capacities for rightful, karmic justice forebode trouble and turmoil. Heed this warning and evaluate your life.