File:Basilisk_aldrovandi.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
basilisk
Sign in to saveIn European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes. According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene is a small snake, "being not more than twelve inches in length", that is so venomous, it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its path, and its gaze is likewise lethal.
A basilisk is a legendary serpent from European folklore believed to be a king among snakes, famous for allegedly killing anyone who meets its gaze. According to ancient accounts like Pliny the Elder's writings, it was described as a small, extraordinarily venomous snake that could cause death through both its venom and its deadly stare.
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Key facts
- Mythical creature.name
- Basilisk
- Mythical creature.image
- Basilisk aldrovandi.jpg
- Mythical creature.caption
- Woodblock print of a basilisk from Ulisse Aldrovandi, Serpentum, et draconum historiae libri duo, 1640
- Mythical creature.Sub_Grouping
- Mythological hybrids
- Mythical creature.Similar_entities
- Dragon, Cockatrice, Sea serpent, Giant anaconda, Venomous Mythical Snake
- Mythical creature.Folklore
- European
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Basilisk aldrovandi.jpg
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- Commons category
- Basilisk
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~14 min read
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Accounts
- Origin
- Historical literary references
- See also
- References
- External links
In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes. According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene is a small snake, "being not more than twelve inches in length", that is so venomous, it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its path, and its gaze is likewise lethal.
According to Pliny, the basilisk's weakness is the odor of a weasel. The weasel was thrown into the basilisk's hole, recognizable because some of the surrounding shrubs and grass had been scorched by its presence. It is possible that the legend of the basilisk and its association with the weasel in Europe was inspired by accounts of certain species of Asiatic and African snakes (such as cobras) and their natural predator, the mongoose.