basilisk
demonic earth Medieval bestiaries single tradition · 3
A creature from medieval bestiaries. The basilisk represented the devil.
↻ synthesized from 3 sources
When
- First attested
- 500 CE
- Attested period
- 500 – 1500
- Historical notes
- Medieval Christian symbolism.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- manticore, Fenghuang, Cockatrice, Erinyes, Djinn, Elemental, Fionnuala, Firebird, Fūjin, Gamayun, Gargoyle, Garuda, Stheno, Euryale, Harpy, Hippogriff, Huitzilopochtli, Itsumade, Lightning Bird, Lindworm, Minokawa, Nephele, Nue, Huginn, Muninn, Ong, Peryton, Raiju, Roc, Sarimanok, Shahbaz, Sirens, Simurgh, Snallygaster, Stymphalian Birds, Sylph, Thunderbird, Winged Unicorn, Wyvern, Yalungur, Yuki-onna, Zilant, Zduhać, Basan, Shinigami, Isonade, Adzuki-arai, Holy Spirit, centaur, Cyclops, Minotaur, Scylla, Charybdis, Hydra, harpies, chimaera, Triton, Piasa Bird, griffins, Medusa, Pegasus, sphinxes, angels, dragon, lamassu, phoenixes, Ziz
- syncretized with
- devils
Mentioned by
- Holy Spirit
- centaur
- Cyclops
- Minotaur
- Scylla
- Charybdis
- Hydra
- harpies
- chimaera
- Triton
- Piasa Bird
- griffins
- Medusa
- Pegasus
- sphinxes
- angels
and 4 more
Sources
Source passages
“Medieval bestiaries included animals regardless of biological reality; the basilisk represented the devil”
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