UP Gallery #1 Animals and Quaternions / m) Lasx Unicorn

Lascaux (c. 16,000 BC). The Rotunda. At far left of composition, the so-called 'Unicorn', though it has two horns. This fantastical creature appears pregnant and is marked with undulating red line; black circles, three black strokes or 'tri-line' (?) and red ochre smudge.

Comment: In the light of my hypothesis for the decipherment of UP(E), these are predominately signs meaning 'flow, water, fluid movement'. From comparative mythology a close ethnographic parallel might be the Anishinabe (Ojibwa) misipisiwak or 'underwater panther' which has horns, is a game guardian (master of animals), and in the flood myth prevents the extermination of game [Brightman, R. (1993). Grateful Prey: Rock Cree Human-Animal Relationships. Berkeley: University of California, p. 83].

Photo © André Leroi-Gourhan. (1967). Treasures of Prehistoric Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams, fig. 72.