Myths and Facts about Basilisk

It has come to my attention, while I was reading some books on dragonology, that through the years people have confused what a Basilisk is, a type of dragon, and what a Cockatrice is, which is not categorized as a dragon. In this blog I would like to point out the difference between these two fascinating creatures and the truths and facts about the basilisk.

This is a text gotten from the book Magickal, Mystical Creatures by D. J. Conway and it says:
The Basilisk (Scientific Name: Draco basiliskos) and Cockatrice (Scientific Name: Gallicus halitosis) became known as the same creatures by the Middle Age. Earlier, however, they were two separate, but vaguely similar, fabulous beasts. A silver sculpture from about 1600 shows a basilisk with a lizard-like head, webbed and clawed front feet, two wings, and a serpent-like tail. A picture of a Cockatrice from about the same time portrays the creature with a cock’s body two wings, a spiked head, and a serpent’s tail.
The basilisk was a reptile, while the Cockatrice was a combination of rooster and snake with wings. Both creatures were said to have the ability to turn to stone anything they saw. Their breath was considered to be venomous, as was the touch of their bodies and blood. This poison was said to travel through any weapon used to kill the Basilisk or Cockatrice, thus killing the person holding the weapon.
However, Aristotle believed that if the Basilisk saw its reflection in a mirror it would turn to stone. The person holding the mirror of course, had to avoid looking at the creature. Another legendary method of killing either of these creatures was to carry a weasel or mongoose with you. These animals would supposedly attack and kill the Basilisk or Cockatrice on sight and were immune to the deadly stare.

Now we will go to the myths and facts about the Basilisk.

This text is gotten from the book The Dragonology Handbook by “Ernest Drake.”
Myth: Basilisk are mythical creatures that have never existed.
Fact: Basilisk are shape-shifters and so are very hard to spot.
Myth: Basilisk can kill with a single glance.
Fact: There is no antidote to their venomous bite.
Myth: Basilisk look like snakes with a cockerel’s head.
Fact: No one knows what their “real” shape is like.
Myth: Myths of Basilisk started with Pliny’s description of a cobra.
Fact: Hanging a Basilisk corpse from the rafters helps deter spiders and swallows from coming into your house.
Fact about why to carry a mirror when facing a Basilisk: when faced with two enemies – the person and its own reflection – the Basilisk will judge itself the more dangerous and attack the mirror, leaving the person free to flee.





Gotten From: The Dragonology Handbook by Ernest Drake
Magickal, Mystical Creatures by D.J. Conway