Unicorn, mythical beast resembling a white horse with a stag's legs, a lion's tail, and a straight horn spiraling from its forehead. Symbolic of holiness and chastity, the unicorn was prominent in tapestries of the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century). The unicorn was believed to be fierce and difficult to capture, but if a virgin were brought before it, it would lay its head in the virgin's lap. Its horn was thought to offer protection against poison. Medieval writers associated the unicorn with Jesus, and the hunt for the unicorn was often represented in medieval art. It has been widely used in heraldic signs.

Pegasus, in Greek mythology, a winged horse that sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa when she was killed by the hero Perseus. Bellerophon, prince of Corinth, captured Pegasus with the aid of a golden bridle given to him by the goddess Athena. When Bellerophon attempted to fly to the topof Mount Olympus to join the gods, Pegasus threw him and found shelter in the Olympian stalls, where he was entrusted with bringing lightning and thunderbolts to the god Zeus. (Click Thumbnail for Enlarged Image)