Basilisks and Cockatrices
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What are Basilisks and Cockatrices?
Basilisks and cockatrices, creatures of myth and legend, what are they? Not the most well known of the mythical creatures, a basilisk does have its 15 minutes of fame in the Harry Potter book "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Basilisks, not only in Harry Potter's world, are dangerous, evil creatures with the power to kill with a single glance.
A basilisk is usually depicted as a crested reptile, the king of serpents. In fact there is a kind of lizard called Basiliscus plumifrons or Plumed lizard, also Green Basilisk, the male of which has 3 crests: on the head, on the back, and on the tail (the female has only a crest on the head). These lizards are able to run across water (at least for a short distance) and are not dangerous at all.
Back to the mythical basilisk, though, this is a lizard or snake, or a composite of a reptile and rooster, with the head and front legs of the rooster and a reptilian tail. And here we get to the cockatrice - sometimes the creatures have wings, and then they are called cockatrices.
Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Basilisks and Cockatrices
Where do they come from and What do they do?
The basilisk is a mythical or legendary creature. It gets its name from the Greek basilískos, "little king," and is so-called because it has a white mark on its forehead that resembles a crown, also in some depictions, a crest standing up on its head like a crown. The basilisk is said to be hatched from the egg of a snake by a cockerel. The cockatrice, in contrast, is hatched from the egg of a rooster by a snake or toad, and so it has wings,unlike the basilisk.
The basilisk of ancient mythology is small, no more than a foot long, but still deserves its title of "little king" because it is extremely dangerous, lethal in fact. Snakes are routed by its hiss; bushes and plants wither at its breath; its bite is so venomous even a horse will die; and one glance from its red eyes can kill a man. Don't mess with the basilisk!
Basilisk - Symbol of Evil
Because it is so dangerous and takes a reptilian form, Christianity cast the basilisk as the symbol of evil, a representation of the devil. Many depictions of basilisks (or cockatrices to be more precise) show them being defeated by Christian knights. There is even a stone relief of the lion (Christ) killing the basilisk (devil) in Gurk Cathedral, the ultimate depiction of good triumphing over evil.
The lion (Christ) kills the basilisk (devil) in Gurk Cathedral.
Image from Wikimedia Commons.
How Do you Kill Basilisks and Cockatrices?
We realize these creatures are deadly. But they're not immortal, so what kills them?
Well, there's a couple of things. First off, apparently the weasel is the basilisk's mortal enemy. So if you can find a weasel it will kill the basilisk or cockatrice for you! In similar vein, it is said that the crowing of the cock sends a basilisk into convulsions till it dies. Wow, and usually they just wake you up!
Image of The basilisk and the weasel
from Wikimedia Commons.
Another, perhaps more meaningful way of dealing with the basilisk involves turning its own weapon against itself. Here's where the trick of holding a mirror (or the knight's shining shield works too) in front of your face so that the basilisk looks in the mirror instead of your eyes, and the evil glare is reflected back and kills the basilisk. There seems to be quite a good moral in this version, implying that defeat of evil comes not necessarily through physical strength but can be accomplished by turning the power of evil back on itself.
Image of Allegory of the strength of faith (1741),
fresco at the ceiling of Saint Sebastian church
in Wolframs-Eschenbach by Johann Michael Zinck
from Wikimedia Commons.
Basilisks and Cockatrices in Art
The Sun, The Moon and a Basilisk, Around 1512
by Albrecht Dürer
Buy at Allposters.com
Basilisk, from Cathedral of Notre Dame at Reims
Buy at AllPosters.com
Basilisk, Decorative Arts
Buy at AllPosters.com
Basilisk Depicted with Wings Birdlike But with a Tail
Buy at AllPosters.com
This one is actually called a cockatrice!
Cockatrice Cutout Magnet/Sculpture by Cryptozoologyshop on Zazzle
What do you Think about Basilisks (or Cockatrices)?
Feel free to comment here - and it doesn't have to be just about the apparent unpleasantness of these creatures! Or maybe there's a way to redeem them, I mean they have a certain coolness about them too (maybe I'm just prejudiced because in some of the pix they remind me of dragons!).
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Samaru163
Apr 3, 2012 @ 4:58 pm | delete
- The Basilisk ranks as my favorite mythological monster, and the Cockatrice is also up there. Nice job!
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subcultured
Oct 11, 2011 @ 7:52 pm | delete
- really cute lens, thanks for the information
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Sylvestermouse
May 23, 2010 @ 9:38 am | delete
- You know, I have never heard of these mythical creatures before. Very interesting! I am sure I have seen them on statues and reliefs, but just did not know what they were. I am always intrigued by the images in the arts.
Thanks for the introduction to Basilisks. I believe I should surround myself with roosters and weasels :)
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BevsPaper
Jul 20, 2009 @ 6:47 am | delete
- Another superbly done lens!
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More about Basilisks and Cockatrices
- Basilisk
- Article on Basilisk at New World Encyclopedia.
- Cockatrices
- Mythological and Mysterious Creatures in the KJV
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Copyright © Jennifer P. Tanabe, 2009.
This page was created on May 22, 2009 and is the property of jptanabe (Jennifer P. Tanabe) and Squidoo, LLC. Please do not copy my material!
by jptanabe
I just love mythical creatures! I'm a dragon in the Chinese zodiac so I'm partial to them, griffins are a bit similar which leads us to other chimeras... more »
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