The basilisk is one of the most feared creatures in the Harry Potter series. But what is a basilisk, and why is it so feared?
In Myth and Legend
The basilisk myth is one of the oldest and most famous myths globally. It is a story of a creature so powerful and feared that it was said to be able to kill with just a glance.
The myth of the basilisk can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. In these ancient cultures, the basilisk was believed to be a creature that was part snake and part rooster. The basilisk was said to have the ability to kill with its glance because its stare was so poisonous. The myth of the basilisk was also used to explain the death of plants and animals.
The legend was first mentioned by the Greek historian Pliny the Elder, who wrote about a creature called the “king of the serpents.” Pliny the Elder said that the beast was so deadly that it could kill with just a glance.
The myth of the basilisk was popular during the Middle Ages. In these times, the basilisk was believed to be a creature that could kill with both its glance and its breath. The basilisk was also said to be immune to all weapons.
In The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols (Jean Chevalier and Alain Gheerbrant, translated by John Buchanan-Brown), we find the birth origin of the basilisk:
“It was supposed to be hatched from an egg laid by an aged cock – seven or fourteen years old – a round egg laid on a dung-hill and hatched by a frog or a toad.”
The myth of the basilisk is still popular today. The basilisk is a symbol of evil and danger.
How It Hunts and Kills Its Prey
The basilisk is a fearsome predator that hunts and kills its prey using its lethal gaze. The basilisk’s gaze is so deadly that it can even kill animals that are much larger than it is. It was believed that the basilisk killed its prey with its gaze because its eyes are filled with a deadly venom that causes its mark to die instantly.
Because its glance was so lethal, the only way to kill the Basilisk was to have it look at its reflection in a mirror.
The Reality
There is no evidence that the basilisk exists, and it is most likely just a legend. However, there is some truth to the idea that a deadly creature could be lurking in the shadows.
Many animals can kill with just a glance, such as a cobra. And there is even a creature called the basilisk spider, which is said to be one of the most deadly spiders in the world.
So while the basilisk may not be a real creature, there is certainly no shortage of deadly animals that can kill with just a glance.
The Symbolism
The basilisk is a popular figure in legend and literature. It was featured in works by Shakespeare, J. K. Rowling, and Jorge Luis Borges, among others.
There are several different interpretations of the basilisk’s symbolism. One common interpretation is that the basilisk represents death or the Devil. It may also symbolize the power of nature or the fear of death.
However, E.A. Wallis Budge (Amulets and Superstitions) wrote:
“…the blood of the basilisk is regarded as a remedy for various diseases, and as an ‘amulet’ which will protect a man from spells and incantations.”
