About the monster Basilisk mythology puts forward different hypotheses, according to one legend, he appeared from the cock's egg, which the toad has chased. On others, he is a spawn of the desert, on the third - an ibis is born from the egg of the bird, which lays it over the beak. He lives in caves, because he feeds on stones, even Basilisk eggs are very poisonous and killed instantly.
Basilisk - who is this?
The mythical Basilisk has over the centuries been catching up with people, they were very afraid of it and worshiped it, even now one can see images of a mysterious monster on bas-reliefs. Basilisk is - in translation from the Greek language - "king", it was described as a creature with a cock head, toad eyes and a snake's tail. On his head - a red tuft, reminiscent of the crown, because the character and received a royal name. In ancient times, people believed that the Basilisks lived in deserts, and even created them, killing all living beings. The water that the monster drinks, too, turns into poison.
Is there a Basilisk?
Over the answer to this question, scientists from different countries have been fighting for years. They formulated several versions that explain which of the bestial world could be called Basilisk:
- In the 4th century BC, Aristotle mentioned a very poisonous snake, especially revered in Egypt. As soon as he began to hiss, all the animals fled in panic.
- Looks like a little bit of this chameleon lizard creature, it's also called christian for the ability to run on the water. But she does not know how to kill, in which the inhabitants of the jungle of Venezuela are sure.
- There is a similarity between the Basilisk and the iguana, which has a growth on the head and a leather comb on its back.
Scientists agree that Basilisk exists only in the imagination, in ancient times dangerous snakes and incomprehensible creatures people often attributed unusual abilities. Hence the legend of the terrible monster, which kills by sight at a distance. In the heraldry there is such an image of the Basilisk: the head and body of a bird, dense scales, a snake's tail. You have immortalized it and in bas-reliefs, you can see a terrible creature in the Swiss city of Basel, where there is a monument to this patron of the city.
What does the Basilisk look like?
Legends preserved several descriptions of this creature, and they changed with time. The most common option: a dragon with a cock head and toad eyes, but there are others:
- The second century BC . The monster Basilisk is represented as a large snake with a bird's head, frog eyes and bat wings.
- The Middle Ages . The snake was transformed into a rooster with the tail of a huge viper and the trunk of a toad.
- Abroad the Middle Ages . Basilisk represented a rooster with dragon wings, tiger claws, a tail of a lizard and an eagle beak, with bright green eyes.
Basilisk in the Bible
Did not pass such a monster in the biblical tales. In the sacred texts it is mentioned that the Basilisks lived in the deserts of Egypt and Palestine. He was called "saraf", which in Hebrew means "burning". Cyril of Alexandria writes that such a creation could have been a child of an aspid. Given that they called venomous snakes, we can conclude that these are creatures of the animal kingdom. In some texts of the Bible, the aspid and Basilisk are mentioned separately, so it is difficult to say today what kind of creature they called the "Basilisk Serpent".
Basilisk - Slavic mythology
Basilisk in Russian mythology is mentioned rarely, there was only a mention of the snake that was born from a cock's egg. But in conspiracies he is often mentioned, calling Basilisk, personifying a snake. Rusich believed that Basilisk bewitching eyes, so the color "Basilisk", which was transformed over time into "Vasilkovy", was also considered dangerous.
This attitude was transferred to the Cornflowers, believing that they damage the crops. After the adoption of Christianity on June 4, fell on the feast of the martyr Basilisk Komansky, who was called Vasilkov master. The peasants had in mind the power over these flowers, and not snakes. On the Basilisk holiday it was forbidden to plow and sow, so that the Cornflowers would not then choke rye.
The Legend of Basilisk
In mythology, many legends about the Basilisk have survived, there were even their prohibitions and orders for those who would meet with him. Basilisk snake is special, but death could be avoided if:
- To see the monster first, then it will die.
- Destroy this snake can only be suspended with mirrors. Poisoned air will be reflected and will kill the beast.
Roman poet Lucan wrote that the mythical creature Basilisk, along with such demonic creatures as the aspid, amphibene and amodite, originated from the blood of the Medusa of the Gorgon . Legends of Ancient Greece tell, ostensibly the sight of this enchanted beauty turned a man into stone. The same gift was inherited and monstrous creation. Some researchers believe that we are talking about a snake with a lightning reaction, its throw was so fast that it did not have time to catch the human eye, and the poison acted instantly.