basilisk
Lethal-eyed serpent
A basilisk is a mythical serpent whose gaze or breath could kill.
Medieval bestiaries described it as king of serpents, hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg.
The word now appears mainly in fantasy literature and games, where basilisks typically turn victims to stone.
In zoology, basilisk names a Central American lizard famous for running across water on its hind legs.
Medieval animal treatise
- heraldryStudy of armorial bearings
- alchemyMystical metal transformation
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
- occultConcealed from view
arcane · grimoire · manuscript · illumination · coat of arms · crest · emblem · natural history
Cunning, limbless reptile
- cockatriceDeadly rooster-headed serpent
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
- gorgonSnake-haired petrifying she-beast
chimera · griffin · sphinx · wyvern · manticore · leviathan · kraken · phoenix
Cunning, limbless reptile
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- lizardFour-legged scaled reptile
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- iguanaLarge crested American lizard
herpetology · terrarium · saurian · slithering · coiled · fangs · forked tongue · reptile
Inducing paralytic terror
- stoneSolid earth fragment
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- hypnoticInducing trance or slumber
mesmerizing · fatal · eye contact · penetrating · unblinking · medusa · withering · baleful
bestiary
Medieval animal treatise
occult · arcane · grimoire · manuscript · illumination · coat of arms · crest · emblem · natural history · weasel
serpent
Cunning, limbless reptile
- cockatriceDeadly rooster-headed serpent
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
gorgon · chimera · griffin · sphinx · wyvern · manticore · leviathan · kraken · phoenix · unicorn
serpent
Cunning, limbless reptile
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- lizardFour-legged scaled reptile
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
iguana · herpetology · terrarium · saurian · slithering · coiled · fangs · forked tongue · reptile · crested
petrifying
Inducing paralytic terror
hypnotic · mesmerizing · fatal · eye contact · penetrating · unblinking · medusa · withering · baleful · malevolent
venom
Injected animal poison
death · killing · noxious · virulent · bane · pernicious · destructive · dangerous · mortal · slaying
basiliskphoenix
Self-immolating, regenerating bird
unicorn · guardian angel · protective spirit · fairy · nymph
- St. Peter's BasilicaRome's principal Catholic church
- St Peter's BasilicaVatican's principal church
- St Peters BasilicaVatican's principal church
- Saint Peter's BasilicaCatholic headquarters church
- St. Peters BasilicaVatican's principal church
- St. Mark's BasilicaVenice's principal Byzantine church