It’s not a far stretch that fans of a good treasure hunt could also be fans of mythology and fantasy creatures. All of these elements are combined in the The Unicornis Manuscripts, an illustrated book by Michael Green published in 1983 and again in 2008. The book tells of a fictional 15th century man named Magnalucius and shares his work about the origins and movements of unicorns.
Woven into this tale are real-life clues that point to the location of a buried silver spiral horn that was hidden by Green. But a warning is issued to horn seekers within the world of the book that reads:
O Reader: If thou art neither scribe nor sacrificer, cast not thy gaze upon this book, for it contains secret teachings useful only to the few and troubling to the many. And if thou seekest only mere amusement, read no further. But if thou art an earnest pilgrim on the path of Life, then open, read and ponder.
The book also details the Rule of the Horn, which states “No man knows to whom the Horn should go. That ever and again it must be hidden so that, in obscurity, it may draw forth its rightful Keeper and so be ransomed.”
The silver horn was buried by Green in 1983 and still has yet to be recovered. Before the book was republished in 2008, Green revisited the horn’s location and discovered that it was underwater due to a nearby beaver dam causing the water to rise. But it remained in its hiding spot.
Many people believe that a poem within the book called The Prophecy of the True Horn will reveal the exact location of the horn to someone worthy enough to understand its meaning. While Green says he has not checked on the horn since 2008, no one has reported finding it since then. But he is still hopeful that it will one day be found, comparing it to finding the Holy Grail. After receiving inquiries from treasure seekers, Green revealed that people have come close, but declined to comment further in order to maintain the integrity of the hunt.
The Unicornis Manuscripts toes the line between fantasy and reality. After all, if someone dreams about a unicorn, the creature is real in the world of the dream. And so the mystical realm of unicorns could be seen as a symbol of life and perception.
Have you read The Unicornis Manuscripts? If so, do you believe that the silver horn exists and is waiting to be uncovered? Until it’s found, the mystery will carry on.
Fans of mythical creatures might enjoy the British Royal Mint’s Queen’s Beasts series, which will eventually feature ten heraldic beasts that stood guard at Her Majesty’s coronation ceremony. Check out the latest release of the Silver Red Dragon coin!
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