The unicorn wears a highly decorative collar tied with a gold chain to a pomegranate tree. He sits comfortably on a flowery meadow, surrounded by a circular fence. On his body are drops of red juice from the pomegranates above.

There are several ways of interpreting this hanging. To many, it symbolizes Christ’s resurrection, and the red drops on his body are reminders of his Passion. Others see this as a tamed young groom, content to be bound by marriage to his love. Both the collar and the fence are circular, and have been suggested to represent the vows of marriage. The gold chain, for example, has often been compared to the “chain of love,” a motif popular in vernacular literature of this time. Of course we may also see the unicorn, simply, as a prized animal finally subdued and kept in captivity, the happy conclusion of a hunt.

Even the many plants populating the meadow offer layers of meaning both religious and secular. Take the large iris directly below the unicorn. It is often associated with the Virgin Mary-- the color of its blossoms resembles the blue garment in which she is often represented, and the sharp edges of the leaves are thought to symbolize her sorrow. There are also Madonna Lilies on the lower right—their white blooms symbolize her purity. To the left of the iris are large Carnations, a species very close to clove pinks. Because cloves resemble nails, one of the instruments used in the crucifixion, the carnation has come to be associated with Christ’s passion. There are also many plants that symbolize marriage or fertility. The pomegranate, with its many seeds, was regarded as a symbol of fertility. And the large purple orchid at the center of the tapestry was reputed to have roots that would help beget a son. And lastly, just

above the unicorn’s bent knee, you can see bistort, a plant with a pale pink flower, which was believed to help women conceive. This wealth of plant symbolism is merely one of the many reasons the Unicorn tapestries have fascinated viewers for many years.