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Meanwhile, the cockatrice first appears in its 'modern' form around the same time that the basilisk was being associated with chickens: in the twelfth century, it was depicted as two-legged and [[Our Dragons Are Different|draconian or serpentine]], with the head of a rooster. The name "cockatrice" itself first appeared in the later fourteenth century and came from the Old French ''cocatris'', which in turn was derived from medieval Latin ''calcatrix''; ''calcatrix'' was a translation of the Greek ''ichneumon''. The cockatrice's birth was the reverse of the basilisk - a cockatrice would spawn from a chicken egg incubated ''by'' a serpent or toad - and it became synonymous with the basilisk when the "basiliscus" in Bartholomeus Anglicus' ''De proprietatibus rerum'' (circa 1260) was translated by John Trevisa as "cockatrice".
 
MeanwhileParts of this collective folklore are likely derived from early descriptions of the Nile crocodile, as well as a possible root in Egyptian folk tales; ibis eggs were regularly destroyed for fear that their diet of venomous snakes would create a snake-bird mix, and said eggs were also preyed on by a type of egg-eating mongoose, perhaps specifically the aforementioned[[wikipedia:Egyptian mongoose|Egyptian mongoose]]. This mongoose is likely the basis for the [[wikipedia:Ichneumon (medieval zoology)|''ichneumon'', or "weasel"]], is a creature that was said to target the basilisk and cockatrice alike: -a itreputed wasreliable notkiller onlyof both creatures, it was immune to both their gazes, butand aresistant reputedenough reliablethat killerit ofcould bothat creatures, able toleast [[Taking You With Me|bring down thethese vicious monstercreatures before succumbing to itstheir poisons]]. atMongooses minimum.are Similarlyknown to tangle with venomous snakes, including the spitting cobra and king cobra (both believed to be the basilisk's inspiration), and have an immunity to snake venom that gives it an edge in surviving the fight. The ''ichneumon'' was also said to target and kill crocodiles as well,by waiting for the reptile to bask in the sun with its mouth open, -then afterrunning which it would enterin and eateating its way through itsthe crocodile's insides.
 
Modern incarnations of the basilisk and cockatrice, such as those seen in ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Harry Potter'' and various other fantasy media, portray them as distinct creatures: The basilisk is usually a vicious low-slung reptile that is either lizard-like or serpentine, and the cockatrice is usually a bird-like reptilian monster with a snake's tail, if not an outright snake-bird hybrid. These and the other following traits are generally associated with this pair of creatures:▼
Parts of this collective folklore are likely derived from early descriptions of the Nile crocodile, as well as a possible root in Egyptian folk tales - ibis eggs were regularly destroyed for fear that their diet of venomous snakes would create a snake-bird mix, i.e. a cockatrice. Said eggs may also have been preyed on by the aforementioned "weasel", which was likely a type of egg-eating mongoose and perhaps specifically the [[wikipedia:Egyptian mongoose|Egyptian mongoose]]: Mongooses are known to tangle with venomous snakes, including the spitting cobra and king cobra (both believed to be the basilisk's inspiration), and have an immunity to snake venom that gives it an edge in surviving the fight.
 
* [[Mix-and-Match Critters]]: Most examples of basilisks and cockatrices will also be a case of this, as they are usually a mix of a serpent and a chicken as detailed above; though this is more commonly associated with the cockatrice nowadayscockatrices, the basilisk still retains its origin of "snake hatched by a chicken".▼
The following traits are generally associated with these creatures:
* [[Reptiles Are Abhorrent]]: Both have serpentine features, frequentlyand hideprefer themselveshidden awaydwellings, and are generally considered to be foul and nasty in nature.▼
 
* [[Poisonous Person]]: The basilisk and cockatrice have incredibly potent poisons that make any kind of contact with it fatal, often instantaneously so - depending on the telling, [[Brown Note|eye contact]], [[Breath Weapon|contact with its breath]], handling its corpse, or (as per Lucan above) even runningkilling theit rottenfrom thingclose throughrange is enough for the venom to infect, spread and kill in seconds.▼
▲* [[Mix-and-Match Critters]]: Most examples of basilisks and cockatrices will also be a case of this, as they are usually a mix of a serpent and a chicken as detailed above; though this is more commonly associated with the cockatrice nowadays, the basilisk still retains its origin of "snake hatched by a chicken".
▲* [[Reptiles Are Abhorrent]]: Both have serpentine features, frequently hide themselves away and are generally considered to be foul and nasty.
▲* [[Poisonous Person]]: The basilisk and cockatrice have incredibly potent poisons that make any kind of contact with it fatal, often instantaneously so - depending on the telling, [[Brown Note|eye contact]], [[Breath Weapon|contact with its breath]], handling its corpse, or (as per Lucan above) even running the rotten thing through is enough for the venom to infect, spread and kill in seconds.
* [[Enemy to All Living Things]]: Both the basilisk and cockatrice actively seek out victims to kill with their venom, often because they were...
* [[Made of Evil]]: The pair are often invoked as symbols or literal incarnations of wrath and malice, with an inherently poisonous or downright evil nature.
* [[Walking Wasteland]]: Some accounts assert that, if unable to find a "live" victim, they would turn their powers upon the surrounding plant life instead.
* [[Taken for Granite]]: The instant fatality associated with them sometimes manifests as a form of petrification, possibly based off the fact that venom from cobras and other snakes can immobilize victims. ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' in particular popularized this aspect of the cockatrice.
* [[Weaksauce Weakness]]: In addition to its enmity with the weasel''ichneumon'', some legends say the monster is vulnerable to the crowing of a rooster, and that hearing one will cause the beastbeasts to drop dead. At least one story also says that it is vulnerable to its own gaze, and can be slain if it sees its reflection.
* [[Mister Seahorse]]: Some versions of the story say that the beast hatched from an egg laid by a rooster, (a ''male'' chicken), often as the result of a [[Bad Moon Rising]]. Often this version claimed a snake or toad would find and hatch it.
 
▲Modern incarnations of the basilisk and cockatrice, such as those seen in ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Harry Potter'' and various other fantasy media, portray them as distinct creatures: The basilisk is usually a vicious low-slung reptile that is either lizard-like or serpentine, and the cockatrice is usually a bird-like reptilian monster with a snake's tail, if not an outright snake-bird hybrid.
 
For the manga named after the former creature, see ''[[Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls]]''. For "basilisk images" and other similar hazardous media, see [[Brown Note]], which [[The Basilisk]] redirects to. For other uses of the name, see [[Basilisk]].
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==[[Comic Books]]==
* [[DC Comics]]:
** The 29th issue of Golden Age comic series ''Blackhawk'', a wartime creation of Quality Comics prior to its purchase by DC, features a villain named The Basilisk as the leader of a terrorist group called the B-Men.
** Another character named Basilisk appears as part of a superhero team parodying the [[X-Men]] in Showcase #65 - he is a clear pastiche of Cyclops (Scott Summers), with a gaze that turns victims to stone and requires the use of dark sunglasses to hide his eyes. If that wasn't clear enough, his real name is "Irish Autumns".
** In the Prime Earth continuity, Basilisk is a terrorist group first encountered by [[Black Canary]] and the [[Suicide Squad]]. Much of Basilisk's membership is composed of a cult dedicated to a powerful mythic snake that they believe to be the source of various metahuman-like powers.
* In [[Marvel Comics]], Basilisk is the moniker of four different characters, each with varying motifs derived from the namesake creature:
** The first is [[Steven Ulysses Pervillain|Basil Elks]], a petty thief who broke into a museum to steal what he believed an ordinary emerald. However,- the gem was actually an alien Kree artifact called the Alpha Stone;, and when Elksa issecurity caughtguard andcatches firedElks uponand byshoots aat security guardhim, the bullet accidentally hits and shatters the gem, causingand causes an explosion. thatElks transformsis Elkstransformed into a green, red-eyed humanoid reptilian with eye beams and the ability to flash-freeze victims, (which he then turns upon the unfortunate guard). The newly-christened Basilisk has since faced off against [[Spider-Man (comics)|Spider-Man]], [[Fantastic Four (Comic Book)|the Fantastic Four]], [[Captain Mar-Vell|Captain Marvel]], [[the Punisher]], and Mole Man, and(a recurring villain originating from the Punisher''Fantastic Four'').
** The second Basilisk is Wayne Gifford, who created the alternate persona through demon worship. Also a humanoid reptilian, Gifford possesespossess a paralyzing stare and is an enemy of the [[Anti-Hero]]ic [[Morbius the Living Vampire]].
** The third was a mutant student at the Xavier Institute, who was persecuted in his youth due to his large form and bald head - his mutant ability was a pulse of high-frequency strobe light emitted from his brain that paralyzed sentient viewers, and he had [[Cyclopean Creature|a single eye with a camera-like device in the socket]] that allowed him to control it. He was characterized as [[Dumb Muscle|somewhat dim and extremely aggressive]], and would eventually join the Brotherhood of Mutants shortly before they took over New York City; Magneto accidentally kills him after he makes an insensitive joke about the "bad smell" of the marched human prisoners (which is [[Too Dumb to Live|generally unwise when your leader is a ''Holocaust survivor'']]).
** A fourth Basilisk appeared in the ''[[Age of X]]'' crossover, beingas a [[The Atoner|former executioner from Arcade's prison]] who killed himArcade and defected to [[La Résistance|Magneto's resistance]]. {{spoiler|He is revealed to be the [[Alternate Reality|Age of X's]] Cyclops, who [[Eye Scream|had his eyelids removed]] and must use a special mask to control his powers}}.
* ''[[Basilisk (comic)|Basilisk]]'' is the name of a supernatural horror comic series by Boom! Studios, written by Cullen Bunn with art by Jonas Scharf. The premise of the comic centers around five individuals with horrifying sense-based supernatural powers that wreaked havoc and death upon small towns - Regan, the one who possesses sight-based powers, has since escaped and gone into hiding, and the comic begins with a victim from her past tracking her down.
 
== [[Literature]] ==
* ''[[Harry Potter]]'':
** BasilisksIn ''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets|The Chamber of Secrets]]'', basilisks are very large and long-lived serpents with lengths upwards of fifty feet and a lifespan of several centuries, and draw from their folkloric depictions in several aspects - including its enmity towards spiders is courtesy of Bulfinch, as well as its weaknesses toand the crow of a rooster and the musk of a weasel (are both of which are said to kill it). {{spoiler|In ''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets|The Chamber of Secrets]]'', aA massive female basilisk is revealed to be the fabled beast within the Chamber; Tom Riddlethat had openedattacked theseveral Chamber fifty years agostudents and seteven itkilled uponone severalfifty Mugglebornyears students,ago; withit oneis killedset andfree theagain rest temporarily petrified. Inin the present day, the Chamber is opened again, and several Muggle-borns are petrified, with all the school's roosters conveniently killed as well. Most of the basilisk's victims in both cases saw it indirectly (i.e., through a reflection or a lens) and were thankfully cured with phoenix tears. The- the only two to directly meet its gaze inwere the[[Our bookGhosts wereAre ghosts, and thusDifferent|the already -dead Nearly-Headless oneNick ofand them was [[Our Ghosts Are Different|Moaning Myrtle]], whoand Myrtle had been instantlythe killedsole byfatality meetingof itsthe gazefirst fifty years agoattacks. When Harry discovers that Tom Riddle was responsible for the chamber,first heopening learnsof thatthe RiddleChamber, hadand his spirit possessed Ginny Weasley through his old diary to re-open the chamberChamber and remove any obstacles (such as the roosters). Riddle's spirit sets the basilisk upon him, but with the aid of Dumbledore's pet phoenix Fawkes and the sword of Gryffindor, Harry is able to kill the basilisk and destroyuse Riddle.its Infang ''[[Harryto Potter/Harry Potter anddestroy the Deathlydiary Hallows|Theand Deathly Hallows]]''Riddle, thefreeing basilisk fang's and the venom absorbed by the sword [[Chekhov's Gun|play a major part]] in destroying most of Voldemort's [[Soul Jar|Horcruxes]] (one of which was the already-destroyed diary)Ginny.}}
** Cockatrices are mentioned briefly in ''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', where: Hermione explains that the Triwizard Tournament had not been held in centuries:, with the last one had been called off due towhen a cockatrice that participants were tasked with capturing got loose, and the heads of the competing schools were injured in the aftermath.
** In ''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]'', the first basilisk is reported to have been birthed by Herpo the Foul, a Greek Dark wizard and Parselmouth (able to communicate with snakes) who hatched a chicken egg under a toad. Basilisks are said to be uncontrollable except by Parselmouths, and are the mortal enemy of spiders (who flee from their presence). Their venom and stare are differentiated, but no less deadly than the original folklore, and the male basilisk's head has a distinct scarlet plume.
** In ''[[Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince]]'', {{spoiler|the diary was revealed to be one of Voldemort's [[Soul Jar|Horcruxes]] - Harry and Dumbledore eventually found another in the ring of Marvolo Gaunt. [[Chekhov's Gun|The basilisk's venom absorbed by the sword of Gryffndor]] allowed them to destroy the ring, and it was sought out in ''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|The Deathly Hallows]]'' in order to eliminate most of the remaining Horcruxes.}}
* In Chapter 4 of ''[[The Worm Ouroboros]]'', King Gorice shows Gro a live cockatrice.
* In ''[[Dracula (novel)|Dracula]]'', Jonathan Harker likens the titular vampire's gaze to a basilisk's as he attempts to destroy the sleeping Count, only for said gaze to turn upon Jonathan mid-swing and throw off his aim.
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* In ''[[Amphibia (TV series)|Amphibia]]'', the Chicka-lisk is a chicken-like demon that can turn people to stone with a stare and eats gold.
* In an episode of ''[[Little Devil]]'', Chrissy rides a cockatrice (given to her by her father, [[The Devil]]) that looks like a dragon with a rooster's head and legs, covered with black feathers, a long, barbed tail, and breathes fire. [[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|It seems a little offended when Chrissy calls it a "dragon".]]
* In ''[[The Owl House]]'', a basilisk is a [[Voluntary Shapeshifter|shapeshifting Beast-type demon]] whose true form resembles a snake with arms and human-like features. Basilisks are not necessarily evil, as Vee (revealed to be one) is friendly towards Luz and company and gladly assists them. The greater basilisk can consume magic drained from spells and magical beings - one is suspected to have been a henchman of the Emperor's Coven, and unlike Vee isthey are [[Obviously Evil]].
 
== [[Real Life]] ==
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