Basilisk
The basilisk is a mythical creature of European origins, said to be the king of the serpents.
The basilisk is a snake-like creature said to be able to kill with a single gaze. It is said to have deadly breath and highly potent venom. It’s nickname, “king of serpents” is supposedly due to a crown-like crest upon its head.
The term cockatrice is sometimes used interchangeably with basilisk. Both mythical creatures are said to kill with their gaze. However, while a basilisk is described as more of a serpent, the cockatrice is often described as having the head of a rooster.
Interestingly, the basilisk is said to be weakened by the odor of a weasel.
While it is known now to be legendary and mythical, early accounts of basilisks treated it as a real creature, and it was included in bestiaries of Pliny the Elder and Leonardo da Vinci.
Legends of the basilisk may have originated from real accounts of certain species of snake, such as the king cobra and spitting cobra.
The basilisk is mentioned in two of William Shakespeare’s plays, Richard III and The Tragedy of Cymberline. In both cases the creature’s killing gaze is referenced.
In Bram Stoker’s famous 1897 novel Dracula, the gaze of Count Dracula is likened to a basilisk, in that it paralyzes Jonathan Harker as he attempts to kill the count.
In the popular Harry Potter series of books and films, the basilisk is a large serpent-like creature that can kill with its gaze, and also petrify anyone who meets the creature’s gaze indirectly, such as through a camera or a mirror’s reflection.