The Basilisk: King of Serpents

 

          Though I chose the title because it just sounded awesome, it holds truth. “Basilisk” derives from the Greek word “Basilískos” meaning "little king”. A basilisk is basically like the Medusa of reptiles. It is a legendary creature believed to kill with a simple glance.

            "There is the same power also in the serpent called the basilisk. It is produced in the province of Cyrene, being not more than twelve fingers in length. It has a white spot on the head, strongly resembling a sort of a diadem. When it hisses, all the other serpents fly from it: and it does not advance its body, like the others, by a succession of folds, but moves along upright and erect upon the middle. It destroys all shrubs, not only by its contact, but those even that it has breathed upon; it burns up all the grass, too, and breaks the stones, so tremendous is its noxious influence. It was formerly a general belief that if a man on horseback killed one of these animals with a spear, the poison would run up the weapon and kill, not only the rider, but the horse, as well. To this dreadful monster the crow of a rooster is fatal, a thing that has been tried with success, for kings have often desired to see its body when killed; so true is it that it has pleased Nature that there should be nothing without its antidote. The animal is thrown into the hole of the basilisk, which is easily known from the soil around it being infected. The weasel destroys the basilisk by its odour, but dies itself in this struggle of nature against its own self."

Pliny the Elder: Natural History

           

The basilisk is called "king" because it is said to have some sort of crown-shape on its head. This is one reason that many believe the Basilisk was actually just an abstract recollection of a cobra. Cobras can also stay in an upright position. The king cobra has a crown-like symbol on its head. A few species of spitting cobras can incapacitate anyone by spitting venom, which would explain the deadly reputation of a basilisk. As if that weren’t enough, cobras most often spit the venom into the eyes of its victims. Frankly, I feel as if that is really just over the top.