I can see many of the attributes of the cockatrice originating from a cobra. the paralyzing gaze could be the reported hypnotic motion of a cobra or even the painful venom spit of a cobra causing someone to think they are being paralyzed and the weasel weakness might be from someone seeing a mongoose taking down a cobra.
I too thought first of the king cobra or the spectacled cobra, and the mongoose. I wonder if the ancient peoples were as fond of menageries as later European royalty? Or perhaps simply hearing foreign merchants telling tales - "lost in translation" in this case might have gained us the legendary creature!
@@Beryllahawk I like to think of it as "zoological telephone" and even nowadays with a camera in everyone's pocket we get stuff like the Montauk monster and air rods.
I was surprised the weasel-mongoose connection to reality wasn't mentioned with the cobra discussion. Guess it's a little bit of a stand-out on its own.
‘I dreamed I saw a basilisk That basked upon a rocky shore. I looked upon the basilisk … With eyes of stone I looked no more. I dreamed I saw a cockatrice A-chewing on a piece of bone. I gazed upon the cockatrice … One cannot gaze with eyes of stone. To look upon a basilisk Is really never worth the risk. To gaze upon a cockatrice Is permanent and never nice. For it can never be denied: Life isn’t pleasant, petrified.’ -Neil Gaiman
Want an honest review? The perspective’s shot to hell, the colors could be better chosen, and the olive tree on the left looks like an overgrown stinging nettle. 0/10 talking doggos not impressed
She would 100% be the amazing DM that does too much research on every potential creature in the campaign and makes it a life changeingly awesome experience.
Let's be honest here, if you were to play in a campaign run by her, you WILL come out of it with a degree in cryptozoology and a vast understanding of the importance of the creatures in their native cultures.
I have a feeling there would be many a butthurt "rEaL gAmErS" trying to "Well Ackshually" her, nitpicking everything she might share about mythical creatures because they're the kind of miserable pedants who are deeply insecure about women who know more than they do.
This show continues to amaze me with its levels of detailed research and gorgeous artwork. Thank you for always making some of my favorite TH-cam educational videos.
By sheer coincidence, the cockatrice looks like a medieval depiction of our current scientific understandings of bird-like Dinosaurs. Just look at reconstructions of Yi qi, Citipati, Stenonychosaurus or Microraptor.
It's like the cockatrice was the post-Jurassic Park art vs. the basilisk was the early King Kong era depiction of dinosaurs. It does kinda make one wonder if other civilizations found paleo-feather impressions way before we ever recorded them...
@@B2WM In my personal opinion, it wouldn't surprise me if bird or bird-like dinosaurs fossils found in lagerstätte may have given rise to the phoenix myth. In the past, fossils have been used to explain certain mythical creatures or phenomena. Ammonites were thought to have been petrified snakes. Prehistoric pygmy elephants & mammoth skulls may have been mistaken for the skulls of giant humans & given rise of the tale of cyclops. The "Monster of Troy" vase depicts a skull of a monitor lizard. Infamously, some have suggested that the griffin was based on Protoceratops. However, that last claim has since been dismiss. Also, this wasn't limited to the prehistoric animals. For example: Narwhal, antelope, wild goat, ox & rhino parts were used as evidence for the existence of the unicorn for centuries.
Was literally about to mention this. I love that out of all the outlandish creatures, the weird snake chicken is somehow the closest to being an actual thing.
I borrowed a book from the library as a kid that had a cockatrice/basilisk story in it. The basilisk was depicted as a snake with a rooster's head, and it was really something. I still remember its look all these years later vividly. Just wish I remember what the book was.
I check out a book at my library in Wichita falls TX that has basilisk and cockatrice in it called "the mythic bestiary" it might not be it, but eh, who knows 🤷?
JK Rowling could've integrated the myth of the basilisk and the weasel so easily by letting Ron fight the monster. But oh no, we need more of the chosen one...
@To The Horror you don't actually know what's being talked about, do you? kinda impressive, given how much it osmoses into pop-culture. granted, what you said wouldn't have to be altered too much to make it work.
It's interesting how the legend of this mythical creature basically started out as a PSA warning people about snakes and then over time it pretty much developed into Godzilla.
Just an amusing anecdote: about the time I read 'Chamber of Secrets', my family had a whole lot of barn cats, some of whom were friendly...most of which were feral, and definitely didn't want anything to do with people. There were also a lot of kittens born around this time, so, naturally, we kids would head out to the shed and barn to get a look at the kittens and hopefully find one or two friendly enough to play with. One of the places they sheltered was under an old freezer, lifted up on two pallets. One day, I went out to look for kittens, and hear them mewing, I got down on my hands and knees to look under the pallets to see if they were there. I saw at least one, a little black-and white face...and behind it, glaring at me with the same evil intent as on the cover illustration in the book, were two evil yellow eyes. They belonged to one of the mama cats: a fluffy black creature who turned out to be one of the meanest cats we ever had--she would actually try to attack us. Her name, shortly thereafter, was 'Basilisk'.
Fun fact: In Harry Potter, the basilisk and cockatrice are apparently VERY different creatures. Catching one of the latter was a task in an 18th century Triwizard Tournament, so presumably it wasn’t nearly as deadly as Slytherin’s Monster.
not to be that guy because you make a good point It was also said that the Triwizard Tournament caused so many deaths that it was discontinued so they might still be equally dangerous, but You do make a good point and are probly correct
@@cringeperson6333 I also think that just cause two monsters share similar abilities and traits they aren't necessarily the same. For example wyverns and dragons share many traits. Reptilian, have wings, carnivorous, can fly, etc. But they're not the same creature related but not the same
@@bman296 wrong, like with most ubiquitous fantasy monsters, they can change form and origins, but they're still the same mythological creature. Like myths themselves, they change and evolve depending on the culture and time. Wyverns can be Dragons and viceversa, same with Basilisks and Cockatrices, they're either the same creatures or different ones depending on who and *when* you ask.
@@bman296 No wonder in some manga I've read, Author decide to put Basilisk and Cockatrice as a different species but under the same family in the world building
I'm leaning toward cobras being the inspiration. They rear up when threatened, flair out that hood around their head that sometimes has patterns on it, and some species are predated upon by the vaguely weasel-like mongoose.
I got glued to the TH-cam for 11mins like a basilisk stare! I love the way y'all analyze the natural world links and historical context behind the mythical creatures. Great job as always, Dr Z and crew!
Bit miffed that the catoblepas from Africa (which looks like pumbaa with Medusa's eyes btw) wasn't mentioned but then again its not as popular as most mythic critters
The Harry Potter Basilisk was capable of the Death Glare, Moaning Myrtle was a canonical victim, only for the victims in Chamber of Secrets to petrify through plausible means: reflections or looking at it indirectly (like though a camera or a ghost). I think Rowling was acknowledging both ideas in the history behind the basilisk myths (even Harry recreates the Soldier of Pharsalia story when he thrust the Sword of Gryffindor through the Basilisk's skull, got impaled with one of the fangs, and nearly succumbed to the venom). Plus the venom was potent even six years after the serpent's death and its ties with Slytherin and Voldemort follows the Satan elements/archetypes.
@@kingrahzar9351 too many monsters, you could talk about anything then. The catoblepas was originally known for its deadly poison breath, because it ate venomous plants, iirc. Then of course that legend evolved too. Anyway yeah, a wildebeest with a very big, heavy, permanently lowered head. Or something.
Very interesting as always. As far as I know, in Spanish there is no cognate for cockatrice, so both creatures (giant serpent and serpent-rooster hybrid) are called "basilisco." However, before HP's basilisk became mainstream, I believe depictions of the "basilisco" would more commonly resemble a cockatrice, whereas the giant king of serpents would be called "régulo," a diminutive and pejorative form of "rey" (king), i.e., kinglet. Definitely a common origin there.
Fun fact: I grew up in Switzerland in a city called Basel-Stadt which has been named after the Basilisk. We have them all over the town on fountains and statues and serve as a type of guardian.
@@roswynn5484 So no technically basilisk is not in our heraldry but there is a lot of statues in houses where two basilisks are holding the heraldry.I don’t if you would consider devil worshiping since it’s just a more symbolic thing now.
@@adaterlikci1655 Yeah I was just kidding about devil worshipping 😊 So basilisks hold your heraldry in a number of place, but the heraldry itself has no basilisk? I'm trying to figure out what is this Basilika you were talking about. A basilica is mainly a kind of Roman-era church, like St Peter in Rome and St Mark in Venice. It's the architectural style before cathedrals more or less
The Pharsalia is hardcore. I translated the part with Scaeva in college and it was intense. Fighting with a forest of spears already sticking out of your chest? Badass.
As a reconnecting Cherokee/Tsalagi person, when you mention the crest/Crown/white spot, my mind immediately went to our sacred creature the Uktena that is said to have a blazing Diamond in its head that entrances people to run towards it. It also has the venom and deadly breath aspect of the Basilisk. Would love to see a video on Uktena, to compare and contrast the two Serpent Kings from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Very fascinating theory on how they both are combined through the grass snake and abnormalities they couldn't explain with chicken eggs before more knowledge and science. Freaking amazing as always Dr.Z! :3
I love when we see where folklore and biology meets, Its when we see a deep dive onto Manticores and their comparison to tigers (orange not being noted as a colour until recently) that i feel this will be even more obvious
The Persian mardhkora, man-eater (like many tigers who accidentally get a taste of human meat). It was described as red, which was probably their way of saying tawny/orange (fulvus in latin). I do wonder where the human face and scorpion tail come from though!
I'm hyped, everytime I see a new video from monstrum and I love, that it always lives up to my hype~ I did not know that those two beasts are the same to be honest... always thought the basilisk is a really big snake with a glance that can kill you and the Cockatrice was the one with the upper half chicken... Now I'm wiser and I love it!
It's crazy how some monsters evolve over time. Sirens, basilisks, and vampires have all gone through the weirdest changes depending on who's telling the story about them. Makes you wonder about what other monsters have or will go through drastic and unexpected evolutionary changes.
interestingly we don't have an extra word for cockatrice in German and just call them Basilisk too. That always confused me, but suddenly makes a lot more sense. Also may I suggest the "Lindwurm" for a future episode, or would that be too similar to dragons?
The Basilisk is quite similar to Vasuki - The king of Serpents, in Indian lore. He too has a gem on his head called the ‘Nagamani’ and is the king of all the ‘Nagas’ or snakes.
is no one going to talk about how insane it is the the story of this monster is as old as the first century? That's insane to me how a story can last so long without being lost to time. Brings a whole new meaning to "legends never die."
It’s a great day when there is a new monstrum video. I would love to see a video about unicorns, Pokémon, selkie, the underwater panther, Kirin, or Mokele-mbembe.
ROTFLMAO! 🤣 You mean the prank Aussies pull on the gullible (mostly American) tourists bear. 🐨 It's almost as good a prank as the story of the. Dreadful Deadtread Beast that lurks by the side of Australian roadways. 🤣
I already knew most of those things because of Pathfinder. My players' characters were hired to destroy a cockatrice nest down in Waterdeep's sewers. The monster's profile in the Bestiary got me so hyped that I made them research about cockatrices in-game so that they wouldn't die, because the cockatrice was relatively stronger than the PCs. In the end they bought a rooster and release it into the nest to distract the cockatrice. They killed the thing and nobody took any damage. Including the rooster. Which is probably dead by now anyway because I think the players just left him in their estate without any food or water while they were adventuring. The things you learn playing TTRPGs...
There's a Digimon called Kokatorimon that is based on the cockatrice. Interestingly enough, it's signature technique, Frozen Flame Shot takes inspiration from the cockatrice's ability to turn its victims into stone.
Anyone ever read Eric Carle's "Dragons, Dragons"? as a kid. There's a poem in it by Laure Whipple about the Basilisk that specifically calls to attention that it is the same thing as a Cockatrice
ok but as a slavic person i have literally never heard of cockatrice other than in my little pony when i was a child- i remember being confused about why they didn’t just call it a basilisk. it was very interesting to hear about the connections and origins of both of the creatures!
It's always a good day when a new Monstrum comes out. I had to laugh when the conversation turned to cockatrices and there was a reminder of a new episode of Good Mythical Morning on the side.
I have usually seen basilisks portrayed as large four-legged reptiles capable of turning its victims to stone with its gaze. I was really surprised to see it as a snake.
I've been waiting and asking for this video for so long. FINALLY my prayers have been heard! Basilisk is probably my favourite creature-monster when it comes to snake and dragons! 😈🐍🐉🐲
Yeah, it's like one of the popular legends from Poland - about a basilisk in a basement (?? I'm almost sure it was in a basement, maybe my memory is tricking me right now...) So, the lesson is: clean your basement from time to time. Ok, so quick research tells me that was like dungeons in Warsaw... close enough?
@@roswynn5484 no, I'm pretty sure they call it "bazyliszek"... I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that a lot of polish legends imported monsters from other places. That's why the video that was mention was called "Operation Basilisk". Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/qS2xTGLCu-M/w-d-xo.html
Dinosaur bones are probably the origin of many monster legends. Who can blame the ancients, and old cultures for filling in with their imaginations the nature of truly terrifying appearance of what we now understand as dinosaur bones. I enjoy your videos. Thanks
Awesome episode! Loved the distribution of cockatrice and grass snake in ancient bestiaries. Kind of reminds me of the camelopard! Pity that one didn't become a symbolic mythological beastie... :)
Hey Dr. Z, thanks for another great video! I’ve always been fascinated by and would like to know more about monstrous/mythical birds like phoenixes, thunderbirds, rukhs or rocs, the Simurgh, FengHuang, or the Stymphalian birds! Any chance we’ll get an episode about any of them?
I just found your channel and I have almost watched everything you’ve produced! I love the lore and history associated with the monsters. Great work to the whole team!
I'm disappointed the predator-prey relationship between the mongoose and spitting cobra wasn't specifically mentioned, it's a real-life analogue to a serpent-killing weasel that to me sounds like a really plausible origin to the myth.
I distinctly remember seeing one medieval woodcut of two witches brewing up a storm, with the description saying that it was believed you’d need to cook together a snake and a basilisc to use witchcraft for changing the weather
Liam Neeson's voice + Bruce Willis's steely gaze + Geralt of Rivia's iron will = one seriously badass dude that would make any monster tremble in fear.
There is a defect in chickens known as Cockatrice syndrome. This happens when a chick hatches and has a prehensile tail. Sometimes the tail can grow long as the chick matures or will be hidden by the tail feathers. They were killed when born as they were seen as evil creatures. It is extremely rare though. The legend of the weasel killing the cockatrice comes from the predator of chickens being weasels, stoats and mink. The Cockatrice would be killed because weasels are very good at killing chickens. And So the Legend was born Id love a little tailed chicken to add to my flock though. Genealogists are actually doing a chickenasaur project. This is basically geneticly modifying a fertilised embryo and adding more reptillian dna to see what the closet living creature to the t rex looks like with reptilian features including a tail and toothed beak
I was just thinking about writing a basilisk/cockatrice into a story and wondering about the details today, and this came up on my feed. Thank you for the excellent timing!
"The basilisk has shown itself! We must use my spear to slay it!" "No! We must pray to combat it." "Pfft. Amateurs." *reaches into pouch, takes out weasel, yeets it at the basilisk* *everyone turns and looks* Works every time.
I heard that the Basilisk in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is inspired by Beowulf--or at least the general narrative of fighting a giant monster
Who knew a bit of moldy rye and a chicken with hormonal imbalance could do so much? Ergot poisoning can make you trip balls. I've heard of some chicken accused of witchcraft because a rooster laid an egg. They...didn't really know how to really tell the difference between roosters and hens other than by their feathers and some hens can look like roosters. Hormonal imbalance can happen like that, like with maned lionesses or bearded ladies.
Dr. Zarka's ability to decode a myth and present its historical and social components to a lay audience is even more fascinating them the myth itself...
Fun fact: The Pokemon Giratina in its Altered Forme is based on a basilisk. You can see it from Giratina's features (six legs like in 0:44, vaguely bird-like head with reptilian features, and serpentine/reptilian body).
That could be coincidental seeing as that thing has 8 legs and no wings, while giratina has 6 legs and 2 wings. It's a pretty on the nose biblical reference too. Who knows though, likely a mix of both.
For once insomnia has presented me with a pleasant experience. I got to see Dr Z's latest video as soon as it was posted. & didn't have to wait till I got up then next morning (5 hours later) to see it. Yay! No if *ONLY* Dr Z could tell me a story about a monster that could help me to fall a sleep without it being deadly for me. 🛌 💤
@@Sara3346 Nightmares aren't my problem it's making my brain go quiet. For me counting sheep is a bit like: One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, oh look a cow & another one. Oh there's a duck, cluck, cluck, cluck go the chicken's. Old McDonald had a farm...... HAY MACARENA! For me the problem isn't nightmares, it's shuting my brain up long enough. For me to drop off the map into the Land of Zzzzz's. Thank you for the link though, I'd never heard of this critter until now. Ta! 😁
@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 Heh, I guess it's my problem too which is why I find myself here at 3 am in the morning. IDK about any mythical beasties with just slumbering abilities in their native myths though sadly. If there were any I'm sure they would have been sought as more valuable than gold by certain people. Like probably us... Dragons Dogma has Sirens which can make people fall asleep but that's not a power they had in the old stories and it's used very maliciously in that game :-(
God, I love this Series so much. Not only do they take a closer look at the monsters and explain information that you would most likely not know but the amazing artwork also draws in so much amazement to the series that it keeps you wanting more!
There is an old folktale, very well known in Poland, at least used to be (not sure about the latest generations) about a young man who takes on a cockatrice/basilisk in a basement of an Old Town building in Warsaw. He uses a mirror to deflect the beast's gaze. I believe there is a restaurant/pub in that alleged spot called "Under the Basilisk" (literal translation)
Gotta love mythological monsters. Sometimes the occasion calls for a terrifying interspecies hybrid that breeds terror in whatever allegory is needed. Giant Man-bull makes earthquakes. Loki giving birth to an eight legged horse (because why not?). But sometimes, all you need is a Snek with an evil eye.
In Chiloé, Southern Chile, the cockatrice is part of the local folklore, supposedly created out of a rooster's egg by a (male) which's magic, but it's called a basilisk, that being my only exposure to the creature I was more than a bit confused when in the Harry Potter movie a huge snake appeared being called the basilisk
I was reading a few months ago about the concept of the chaoskampf and the role it plays in Bronze age creation myths. They tended to be represented as multiheaded snake monsters and there were variants in multiple ancient religions: Tiamat (Babylonian), Apep (Egyptian), Typhon (Greek), Illuyanka (Hittite), Vritra (Vedic), Yam (Canaanite) and Leviathan (Hebrew). They would typically be slain in a climatic battle by a storm or sky god and their bodies used to lay the earths foundations. Seems like at any point in history, most people weren't that fond of snakes.
I can see many of the attributes of the cockatrice originating from a cobra. the paralyzing gaze could be the reported hypnotic motion of a cobra or even the painful venom spit of a cobra causing someone to think they are being paralyzed and the weasel weakness might be from someone seeing a mongoose taking down a cobra.
Agreed
I too thought first of the king cobra or the spectacled cobra, and the mongoose. I wonder if the ancient peoples were as fond of menageries as later European royalty? Or perhaps simply hearing foreign merchants telling tales - "lost in translation" in this case might have gained us the legendary creature!
@@Beryllahawk I like to think of it as "zoological telephone" and even nowadays with a camera in everyone's pocket we get stuff like the Montauk monster and air rods.
I was surprised the weasel-mongoose connection to reality wasn't mentioned with the cobra discussion. Guess it's a little bit of a stand-out on its own.
Yep, exactly what I thought!
The Basilisk Cockatrice Connection is my favorite indie folk band
Oh, BasiTrice?? They might just sound similar, I am not sure....
Is that actually a thing cause I don't wanna search it and look a fool, but I would probably agree
@@bengalas2085 I made it up, but it could also actually exist, I have a habit of doing that
I dunno.
Whenever I listen to 'TBCC', I always feel stoned.
Frozen by sight was an amazing song.
‘I dreamed I saw a basilisk
That basked upon a rocky shore.
I looked upon the basilisk …
With eyes of stone I looked no more.
I dreamed I saw a cockatrice
A-chewing on a piece of bone.
I gazed upon the cockatrice …
One cannot gaze with eyes of stone.
To look upon a basilisk
Is really never worth the risk.
To gaze upon a cockatrice
Is permanent and never nice.
For it can never be denied:
Life isn’t pleasant, petrified.’
-Neil Gaiman
3/5 ⭐
@@pepesylvia848 : It would have been better if Gaiman hadn't used ‘never’ so much towards the end. But to his credit, he acknowledges this.
Want an honest review? The perspective’s shot to hell, the colors could be better chosen, and the olive tree on the left looks like an overgrown stinging nettle. 0/10 talking doggos not impressed
Nice poem
First 2 verses are great, didn't quite stick the landing in the third verse. Still like it though
Could you imagine playing D&D with Dr Z? Epic.
Now that would be scary. She'd be so damn OP!
She would 100% be the amazing DM that does too much research on every potential creature in the campaign and makes it a life changeingly awesome experience.
I want to play Dr. Z’s homebrew campaign it would be so epic
Let's be honest here, if you were to play in a campaign run by her, you WILL come out of it with a degree in cryptozoology and a vast understanding of the importance of the creatures in their native cultures.
I have a feeling there would be many a butthurt "rEaL gAmErS" trying to "Well Ackshually" her, nitpicking everything she might share about mythical creatures because they're the kind of miserable pedants who are deeply insecure about women who know more than they do.
This show continues to amaze me with its levels of detailed research and gorgeous artwork. Thank you for always making some of my favorite TH-cam educational videos.
The lack of bloopers at the end suggests that, this time, Dra. Z has nailed the whole video in the first go.
Or the bloopers weren't that funny
By sheer coincidence, the cockatrice looks like a medieval depiction of our current scientific understandings of bird-like Dinosaurs. Just look at reconstructions of Yi qi, Citipati, Stenonychosaurus or Microraptor.
Flintstones earth theory confirmed
How could they leave out Yi Qi?!
It's like the cockatrice was the post-Jurassic Park art vs. the basilisk was the early King Kong era depiction of dinosaurs. It does kinda make one wonder if other civilizations found paleo-feather impressions way before we ever recorded them...
@@B2WM In my personal opinion, it wouldn't surprise me if bird or bird-like dinosaurs fossils found in lagerstätte may have given rise to the phoenix myth. In the past, fossils have been used to explain certain mythical creatures or phenomena. Ammonites were thought to have been petrified snakes. Prehistoric pygmy elephants & mammoth skulls may have been mistaken for the skulls of giant humans & given rise of the tale of cyclops. The "Monster of Troy" vase depicts a skull of a monitor lizard. Infamously, some have suggested that the griffin was based on Protoceratops. However, that last claim has since been dismiss.
Also, this wasn't limited to the prehistoric animals. For example: Narwhal, antelope, wild goat, ox & rhino parts were used as evidence for the existence of the unicorn for centuries.
Was literally about to mention this. I love that out of all the outlandish creatures, the weird snake chicken is somehow the closest to being an actual thing.
I borrowed a book from the library as a kid that had a cockatrice/basilisk story in it. The basilisk was depicted as a snake with a rooster's head, and it was really something. I still remember its look all these years later vividly. Just wish I remember what the book was.
"The Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were?"
That's really cool.
@@dubuyajay9964 Looked it up, but it doesn't look like that's it. This book had different artwork -- brighter colors, less detail.
I check out a book at my library in Wichita falls TX that has basilisk and cockatrice in it called "the mythic bestiary" it might not be it, but eh, who knows 🤷?
JK Rowling could've integrated the myth of the basilisk and the weasel so easily by letting Ron fight the monster. But oh no, we need more of the chosen one...
Bro the fight was so unsatisfying with that knob-ended safety sword
@To The Horror you don't actually know what's being talked about, do you?
kinda impressive, given how much it osmoses into pop-culture.
granted, what you said wouldn't have to be altered too much to make it work.
Rowling was incredibly lazy in her borrowing from various cultures.
Shouldn't it be Malfoy, since he literally got turned into a weasel?
@@rhysofsneezingdragon1758 maybe, but that was two books later
I'll admit... If I saw a chicken-snake, I'd be pretty petrified.
Just imagining how it's parents got together would inspire horror.
Bird sex and reptile sex is often generally identical. The parts all work the same, I think.
A snake that lays an egg that is sat upon by a hen will become a cockatrice
@@pepesylvia848 because birds are phylogenetically reptiles too?
@@ninomcterenceyaco7344 birds are basically fuzzy reptiles tbh
@@pepesylvia848 not just that, birds are dinosaurs too.
"Seductive and scarry "
*Looks at my pet boa. *
Oh you diva so cute
It's interesting how the legend of this mythical creature basically started out as a PSA warning people about snakes and then over time it pretty much developed into Godzilla.
Basilisk: King of the snake
Jǫrmungandr: Am I a joke to you?
Just an amusing anecdote: about the time I read 'Chamber of Secrets', my family had a whole lot of barn cats, some of whom were friendly...most of which were feral, and definitely didn't want anything to do with people. There were also a lot of kittens born around this time, so, naturally, we kids would head out to the shed and barn to get a look at the kittens and hopefully find one or two friendly enough to play with. One of the places they sheltered was under an old freezer, lifted up on two pallets.
One day, I went out to look for kittens, and hear them mewing, I got down on my hands and knees to look under the pallets to see if they were there. I saw at least one, a little black-and white face...and behind it, glaring at me with the same evil intent as on the cover illustration in the book, were two evil yellow eyes. They belonged to one of the mama cats: a fluffy black creature who turned out to be one of the meanest cats we ever had--she would actually try to attack us. Her name, shortly thereafter, was 'Basilisk'.
Fun fact: In Harry Potter, the basilisk and cockatrice are apparently VERY different creatures. Catching one of the latter was a task in an 18th century Triwizard Tournament, so presumably it wasn’t nearly as deadly as Slytherin’s Monster.
not to be that guy because you make a good point It was also said that the Triwizard Tournament caused so many deaths that it was discontinued so they might still be equally dangerous, but You do make a good point and are probly correct
@@cringeperson6333 I also think that just cause two monsters share similar abilities and traits they aren't necessarily the same. For example wyverns and dragons share many traits. Reptilian, have wings, carnivorous, can fly, etc. But they're not the same creature related but not the same
@@bman296 wyverns and dragons are, in fact, the same mythological figure. Dragons are not morphological defined.
@@bman296 wrong, like with most ubiquitous fantasy monsters, they can change form and origins, but they're still the same mythological creature. Like myths themselves, they change and evolve depending on the culture and time.
Wyverns can be Dragons and viceversa, same with Basilisks and Cockatrices, they're either the same creatures or different ones depending on who and *when* you ask.
@@bman296 No wonder in some manga I've read, Author decide to put Basilisk and Cockatrice as a different species but under the same family in the world building
Can I just say: Dr. Z's hair looks amazing! She must be using mermaid tears and unicorn blood for shampoo and conditioner.
More like unicorn poop🦄💩
It's so shiny! ✨
Bro you are nerd
Definitely some water nymph extract too
SHHH! That information's not supposed to get out!
I'm leaning toward cobras being the inspiration. They rear up when threatened, flair out that hood around their head that sometimes has patterns on it, and some species are predated upon by the vaguely weasel-like mongoose.
Basillisk: "I am the literal embodiment of evil"
Weasel's: "And I took that personally"
the Honey Badger (which is a Weasel) don't give a F about your Basilisk evil!
@@jamesknapp64 Honey Badger just takes what it wants.
I got glued to the TH-cam for 11mins like a basilisk stare! I love the way y'all analyze the natural world links and historical context behind the mythical creatures. Great job as always, Dr Z and crew!
Whoo hoo!!! Love Monstrum and Dr. Z! Stoked to learn the connections between these mythological creatures
Loving the tie in to Medusa about using its reflection to defeat it-also makes me wonder if that's why JK Rowling had her Basilisk petrify people
Bit miffed that the catoblepas from Africa (which looks like pumbaa with Medusa's eyes btw) wasn't mentioned but then again its not as popular as most mythic critters
Cockatrices have been associated with petrification at least as far back as the original Final Fantasy, and I assume that game got it from D&D.
The Harry Potter Basilisk was capable of the Death Glare, Moaning Myrtle was a canonical victim, only for the victims in Chamber of Secrets to petrify through plausible means: reflections or looking at it indirectly (like though a camera or a ghost). I think Rowling was acknowledging both ideas in the history behind the basilisk myths (even Harry recreates the Soldier of Pharsalia story when he thrust the Sword of Gryffindor through the Basilisk's skull, got impaled with one of the fangs, and nearly succumbed to the venom). Plus the venom was potent even six years after the serpent's death and its ties with Slytherin and Voldemort follows the Satan elements/archetypes.
@@kingrahzar9351 too many monsters, you could talk about anything then. The catoblepas was originally known for its deadly poison breath, because it ate venomous plants, iirc. Then of course that legend evolved too. Anyway yeah, a wildebeest with a very big, heavy, permanently lowered head. Or something.
Very interesting as always. As far as I know, in Spanish there is no cognate for cockatrice, so both creatures (giant serpent and serpent-rooster hybrid) are called "basilisco." However, before HP's basilisk became mainstream, I believe depictions of the "basilisco" would more commonly resemble a cockatrice, whereas the giant king of serpents would be called "régulo," a diminutive and pejorative form of "rey" (king), i.e., kinglet. Definitely a common origin there.
My first thought about snake monster was Jormungand.
That is not this... at all. But ok.
Mine is Shahmaran, I imagine it’s regional.
Mine is my ex
What about Hydra? Typhon? Apep? Even Lucifer?
@@thecommenter8751 You won this
I saw this on my favorite creature and immediately clicked
Same!!!!
Basilisk: I'm the king of snake!
jormungandr: Really?
Grass snake: hold my dung pile
Fun fact:
I grew up in Switzerland in a city called Basel-Stadt which has been named after the Basilisk. We have them all over the town on fountains and statues and serve as a type of guardian.
Great to know; I'd love to visit the city and see them!
I grew up in Switzerland aka Basel and Basilika was our logo.We have fountains that have the Basilika on them.It’s basically everywhere in the city
So you're basically devil worshippers? 😁 Is Basilika the name of your heraldry's basilisk?
@@roswynn5484 So no technically basilisk is not in our heraldry but there is a lot of statues in houses where two basilisks are holding the heraldry.I don’t if you would consider devil worshiping since it’s just a more symbolic thing now.
@@adaterlikci1655 Yeah I was just kidding about devil worshipping 😊 So basilisks hold your heraldry in a number of place, but the heraldry itself has no basilisk? I'm trying to figure out what is this Basilika you were talking about. A basilica is mainly a kind of Roman-era church, like St Peter in Rome and St Mark in Venice. It's the architectural style before cathedrals more or less
Oh I didn’t meant to write basilika I have autocorrect so sometimes it writes stuff own
@@adaterlikci1655 hah! 😁 Got it.
The Pharsalia is hardcore. I translated the part with Scaeva in college and it was intense. Fighting with a forest of spears already sticking out of your chest? Badass.
I never thought studying fictional creatures would be so fascinating. Ma'am you definitely picked something you are passionate for!
As a reconnecting Cherokee/Tsalagi person, when you mention the crest/Crown/white spot, my mind immediately went to our sacred creature the Uktena that is said to have a blazing Diamond in its head that entrances people to run towards it. It also has the venom and deadly breath aspect of the Basilisk. Would love to see a video on Uktena, to compare and contrast the two Serpent Kings from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Okay, that would be really cool!
Very fascinating theory on how they both are combined through the grass snake and abnormalities they couldn't explain with chicken eggs before more knowledge and science. Freaking amazing as always Dr.Z! :3
I've known as Basilisk from Harry Potter and Cockatrice from MLP, though in portuguese BR they're both called Basilisk.
I love when we see where folklore and biology meets, Its when we see a deep dive onto Manticores and their comparison to tigers (orange not being noted as a colour until recently) that i feel this will be even more obvious
The Persian mardhkora, man-eater (like many tigers who accidentally get a taste of human meat). It was described as red, which was probably their way of saying tawny/orange (fulvus in latin). I do wonder where the human face and scorpion tail come from though!
@@roswynn5484 weird features probably came from people embellishing, i'd guess.
@@anonymousoff-brand7538 yeah, guess so. It would be nice though if Dr Z made an episode about it!
I'm hyped, everytime I see a new video from monstrum and I love, that it always lives up to my hype~
I did not know that those two beasts are the same to be honest... always thought the basilisk is a really big snake with a glance that can kill you and the Cockatrice was the one with the upper half chicken... Now I'm wiser and I love it!
Legend has it that humming the tune of Pop Goes The Weasel is the only way a human can fight the basilisk's hiss.
You gotta make sure to slug em’ as soon as you get to the end of the song or it gets a +10 illusion buff and you get a -5 to magic resistance
It's crazy how some monsters evolve over time. Sirens, basilisks, and vampires have all gone through the weirdest changes depending on who's telling the story about them.
Makes you wonder about what other monsters have or will go through drastic and unexpected evolutionary changes.
interestingly we don't have an extra word for cockatrice in German and just call them Basilisk too. That always confused me, but suddenly makes a lot more sense.
Also may I suggest the "Lindwurm" for a future episode, or would that be too similar to dragons?
Also, why is there like 4 or 5 words for snake in Spanish like wtf how many ways u gotta describe it before you smash it with a rock
@@pepesylvia848 or it bites you and sends you to the nearest hospital 😁
The lindwurm would be great!
@@roswynn5484 exactly!
The Basilisk is quite similar to Vasuki - The king of Serpents, in Indian lore. He too has a gem on his head called the ‘Nagamani’ and is the king of all the ‘Nagas’ or snakes.
Nice. I always thought the basilisk was male!
Has there ever been a Naga Rajah? I am curious despite the bad pun. Sorry. :(
is no one going to talk about how insane it is the the story of this monster is as old as the first century? That's insane to me how a story can last so long without being lost to time. Brings a whole new meaning to "legends never die."
It’s a great day when there is a new monstrum video. I would love to see a video about unicorns, Pokémon, selkie, the underwater panther, Kirin, or Mokele-mbembe.
One of those things is not like the other
Pokèmon is a bit big as a Monstrum episode though, isn't it?
Also *what* underwater panther? Never heard of anything like that... by any chance you mean the Aztec ahuizotl?
@@roswynn5484 it’s a mythical creature from Native American legends. It’s a creature that opposes the Thunderbird and a creature of the underworld.
@@lilbasenji1 nice! Thanks for mentioning it then!
I love the Chicken Dragon but please do the drop bear
ROTFLMAO! 🤣 You mean the prank Aussies pull on the gullible (mostly American) tourists bear. 🐨 It's almost as good a prank as the story of the. Dreadful Deadtread Beast that lurks by the side of Australian roadways. 🤣
Yes
But he still counts as a monster
I already knew most of those things because of Pathfinder. My players' characters were hired to destroy a cockatrice nest down in Waterdeep's sewers. The monster's profile in the Bestiary got me so hyped that I made them research about cockatrices in-game so that they wouldn't die, because the cockatrice was relatively stronger than the PCs. In the end they bought a rooster and release it into the nest to distract the cockatrice. They killed the thing and nobody took any damage. Including the rooster. Which is probably dead by now anyway because I think the players just left him in their estate without any food or water while they were adventuring. The things you learn playing TTRPGs...
There's a Digimon called Kokatorimon that is based on the cockatrice. Interestingly enough, it's signature technique, Frozen Flame Shot takes inspiration from the cockatrice's ability to turn its victims into stone.
Anyone ever read Eric Carle's "Dragons, Dragons"? as a kid. There's a poem in it by Laure Whipple about the Basilisk that specifically calls to attention that it is the same thing as a Cockatrice
ok but as a slavic person i have literally never heard of cockatrice other than in my little pony when i was a child- i remember being confused about why they didn’t just call it a basilisk. it was very interesting to hear about the connections and origins of both of the creatures!
It's always a good day when a new Monstrum comes out. I had to laugh when the conversation turned to cockatrices and there was a reminder of a new episode of Good Mythical Morning on the side.
Dr Z is so articulate and easy to listen to
I'm sure every White Mage is ready to cast Esuna or Soft when viewing this video:P
Got petrified, blame the White Mage.
-A Dragoon.. probably dead already.
I watching this video in the dark on my bed with only the noise of my ceiling fan moving
Spooky lol
@@janiseallen239 nah at least I wasn't alone
My 13 year old son and I are both addicted to your channel. Your content and delivery are just so awesome.
I have usually seen basilisks portrayed as large four-legged reptiles capable of turning its victims to stone with its gaze. I was really surprised to see it as a snake.
I've been waiting and asking for this video for so long. FINALLY my prayers have been heard! Basilisk is probably my favourite creature-monster when it comes to snake and dragons! 😈🐍🐉🐲
Look up a set of short TH-cam films collectively called "Legendy Polskie." One of them is the Basilisk, and it's really good.
Yeah, it's like one of the popular legends from Poland - about a basilisk in a basement (?? I'm almost sure it was in a basement, maybe my memory is tricking me right now...) So, the lesson is: clean your basement from time to time.
Ok, so quick research tells me that was like dungeons in Warsaw... close enough?
Do they call it a basilisk? Isn't it by any chance an aitvaras?
@@roswynn5484 no, I'm pretty sure they call it "bazyliszek"... I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that a lot of polish legends imported monsters from other places. That's why the video that was mention was called "Operation Basilisk". Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/qS2xTGLCu-M/w-d-xo.html
@@roswynn5484 Many times they call it a basilisk, yes. Though, they go with a quadrupedal reptile-bird hybrid, but it's still good.
@@weronikadabek5635 Polish legends import monsters from elsewhere? That's weird! Poland has a lot of cool creatures!
Dinosaur bones are probably the origin of many monster legends. Who can blame the ancients, and old cultures for filling in with their imaginations the nature of truly terrifying appearance of what we now understand as dinosaur bones. I enjoy your videos. Thanks
There’s no channel yet for otherwords but I suspect it will be my new second fave (after monstrum, of course)
Awesome episode! Loved the distribution of cockatrice and grass snake in ancient bestiaries.
Kind of reminds me of the camelopard! Pity that one didn't become a symbolic mythological beastie... :)
YES YES YES, Thank you for this episode!
Hey Dr. Z, thanks for another great video! I’ve always been fascinated by and would like to know more about monstrous/mythical birds like phoenixes, thunderbirds, rukhs or rocs, the Simurgh, FengHuang, or the Stymphalian birds! Any chance we’ll get an episode about any of them?
"Secretive, slithering, seductive and scary"
Whoever writes these is just aiming for the blooper reel at this point xD
I think some dude just saw an ostrich and was just like, that, that thing is literally the devil.
EXCELENTE VIDEO MUY BUENO ME ENCANTO
I just found your channel and I have almost watched everything you’ve produced! I love the lore and history associated with the monsters. Great work to the whole team!
I'm disappointed the predator-prey relationship between the mongoose and spitting cobra wasn't specifically mentioned, it's a real-life analogue to a serpent-killing weasel that to me sounds like a really plausible origin to the myth.
I distinctly remember seeing one medieval woodcut of two witches brewing up a storm, with the description saying that it was believed you’d need to cook together a snake and a basilisc to use witchcraft for changing the weather
I'd love to see a Monstrum video on the Incredible Hulk. The concept of the heroic monster always fascinated me
i m hooked on these! thanks for this awesome series dr.Z
Do you think that you could go over harpes (the bird monster from the last unicorn)?
Liam Neeson's voice + Bruce Willis's steely gaze + Geralt of Rivia's iron will = one seriously badass dude that would make any monster tremble in fear.
I once read that Basilisk=chicken egg+toad, while Cockatrice=toad egg+chicken
would be cool to see a video about how mermaids fused with sirens
There is a defect in chickens known as Cockatrice syndrome. This happens when a chick hatches and has a prehensile tail. Sometimes the tail can grow long as the chick matures or will be hidden by the tail feathers. They were killed when born as they were seen as evil creatures. It is extremely rare though.
The legend of the weasel killing the cockatrice comes from the predator of chickens being weasels, stoats and mink. The Cockatrice would be killed because weasels are very good at killing chickens.
And So the Legend was born
Id love a little tailed chicken to add to my flock though. Genealogists are actually doing a chickenasaur project. This is basically geneticly modifying a fertilised embryo and adding more reptillian dna to see what the closet living creature to the t rex looks like with reptilian features including a tail and toothed beak
and that, is why birds astound me.
I was just thinking about writing a basilisk/cockatrice into a story and wondering about the details today, and this came up on my feed. Thank you for the excellent timing!
"The basilisk has shown itself! We must use my spear to slay it!"
"No! We must pray to combat it."
"Pfft. Amateurs." *reaches into pouch, takes out weasel, yeets it at the basilisk*
*everyone turns and looks*
Works every time.
Dr. Z and Dr. B should do all the videos on Storied. They're both fantastic.
I heard that the Basilisk in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is inspired by Beowulf--or at least the general narrative of fighting a giant monster
"along with, you know, patriarchy" shots fired
What is a king to a god?
Quetzalcoatl for the win! 🐍
Great video btw 👍
I'm so happy someone finally answered this for me weirdly enough I've always thought about this
Thank you for you great work. I always come to this channel for monster lore. Great for my Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
Would love to see a video on the Catoblepas
Who knew a bit of moldy rye and a chicken with hormonal imbalance could do so much?
Ergot poisoning can make you trip balls.
I've heard of some chicken accused of witchcraft because a rooster laid an egg. They...didn't really know how to really tell the difference between roosters and hens other than by their feathers and some hens can look like roosters. Hormonal imbalance can happen like that, like with maned lionesses or bearded ladies.
Dr. Zarka's ability to decode a myth and present its historical and social components to a lay audience is even more fascinating them the myth itself...
Yeah, for some reason, people always get those two mixed up!
Fun fact: The Pokemon Giratina in its Altered Forme is based on a basilisk. You can see it from Giratina's features (six legs like in 0:44, vaguely bird-like head with reptilian features, and serpentine/reptilian body).
That could be coincidental seeing as that thing has 8 legs and no wings, while giratina has 6 legs and 2 wings. It's a pretty on the nose biblical reference too. Who knows though, likely a mix of both.
I can almost guarantee the whole weasel part came from someone in ancient times witnessing a mongoose fight a cobra
Really well done. Truly.
I keep hearing bacillus like the bacteria, and I wonder if this monster had something to do with its naming
Super interesting! Must check out more of your content. This is good stuff! 👍🏼
For once insomnia has presented me with a pleasant experience. I got to see Dr Z's latest video as soon as it was posted. & didn't have to wait till I got up then next morning (5 hours later) to see it. Yay! No if *ONLY* Dr Z could tell me a story about a monster that could help me to fall a sleep without it being deadly for me. 🛌 💤
What about the Baku? would an episode on them: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku_(mythology) help?
@@Sara3346 Nightmares aren't my problem it's making my brain go quiet. For me counting sheep is a bit like:
One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, oh look a cow & another one. Oh there's a duck, cluck, cluck, cluck go the chicken's. Old McDonald had a farm...... HAY MACARENA!
For me the problem isn't nightmares, it's shuting my brain up long enough. For me to drop off the map into the Land of Zzzzz's.
Thank you for the link though, I'd never heard of this critter until now. Ta! 😁
@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 Heh, I guess it's my problem too which is why I find myself here at 3 am in the morning. IDK about any mythical beasties with just slumbering abilities in their native myths though sadly.
If there were any I'm sure they would have been sought as more valuable than gold by certain people. Like probably us...
Dragons Dogma has Sirens which can make people fall asleep but that's not a power they had in the old stories and it's used very maliciously in that game :-(
God, I love this Series so much. Not only do they take a closer look at the monsters and explain information that you would most likely not know but the amazing artwork also draws in so much amazement to the series that it keeps you wanting more!
There is an old folktale, very well known in Poland, at least used to be (not sure about the latest generations) about a young man who takes on a cockatrice/basilisk in a basement of an Old Town building in Warsaw. He uses a mirror to deflect the beast's gaze. I believe there is a restaurant/pub in that alleged spot called "Under the Basilisk" (literal translation)
Wow I'm always learning new stuff here sincerely thanks.
Gotta love mythological monsters.
Sometimes the occasion calls for a terrifying interspecies hybrid that breeds terror in whatever allegory is needed.
Giant Man-bull makes earthquakes. Loki giving birth to an eight legged horse (because why not?).
But sometimes, all you need is a Snek with an evil eye.
Doc, I once saw that the griffon was the base of all sphinxes... could you make a video on griffons? They are only second to dragons in my heart.
In Chiloé, Southern Chile, the cockatrice is part of the local folklore, supposedly created out of a rooster's egg by a (male) which's magic, but it's called a basilisk, that being my only exposure to the creature I was more than a bit confused when in the Harry Potter movie a huge snake appeared being called the basilisk
You missed the part about how cobras are defeated by the mongoose.
I was reading a few months ago about the concept of the chaoskampf and the role it plays in Bronze age creation myths. They tended to be represented as multiheaded snake monsters and there were variants in multiple ancient religions: Tiamat (Babylonian), Apep (Egyptian), Typhon (Greek), Illuyanka (Hittite), Vritra (Vedic), Yam (Canaanite) and Leviathan (Hebrew). They would typically be slain in a climatic battle by a storm or sky god and their bodies used to lay the earths foundations. Seems like at any point in history, most people weren't that fond of snakes.
Dr.Z is definitely a ravenclaw with all this brilliant research
I guess it's good that the swiss city of Basel chose the basilisk as its heraldic animal and namesake instead of the cockatrice
Basilisks and cockatrices are so similar and so different all at once, when I was younger I used to think they were the same.