Unicorn tapestry mystery in Brandenburg an der Havel

An ancient and valuable unicorn tapestry, measuring over five meters in length, remains a mystery at the St. Gotthardtkirche in Brandenburg an der Havel. Despite investigations by art experts, its origin, creation, and original purpose remain unknown. Experts note that the artwork does not fit any established historical patterns, though its intense, largely original colors continue to fascinate visitors.

The tapestry depicts a woman in a red hood and flowing garments standing by a fountain, holding the horn of a unicorn while looking into its eyes. Interpretations of the scene vary among specialists. Michael Philipp, chief curator at the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, suggests the image represents a ‘symbolic wedding,’ depicting a maiden torn between a worldly life of wealth and a spiritual life in a convent.

Historically, the unicorn served as a symbol for Christ, representing chastity and purity. Pastor Philipp Mosch noted that the historical belief in unicorns may have stemmed from a translation error in the Bible, where a wild bull was mistaken for a unicorn.