This elliptical creation was originally believed to inhabit the edge of the known world. Biblical and classical material, travelers' tales, ecclesiastical writings, and theological assumptions influenced the perceived appearance of this noble beast, but the elegant white horse with a long, single horn remains the most recognizable embodiment. The medieval unicorn became a powerful symbol of religious and worldly love that continued to inspire poets, writers, and artists. As belief in the reality of the unicorn waned, a renewed interest in the medieval past provided the framework for it to flourish again as a subject for art, literature, and mystical study. The medieval art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries filled the illustrative and poetic iconography of the unicorn with an atmosphere of romantic nostalgia that paved the way for its dramatic revival: it gained wings and flew through the realm of fantasy literature. More recently, unicorns have inspired a variety of contemporary trends, from merchandising to financial rhetoric, and the 'animal that never was' shows no signs of extinction.