Ecology of the basilisk and cockatrice, revisited

The basilisk and the cockatrice originate from ancient mythology. D&D depicts them as being a natural part of the fantasy ecology, engaging in foraging and courtship like any other lizard or bird. In this post, I will be exploring their bizarre mythological origins.

From Encyclopædia Metropolitana; Or, Universal Dictionary of Knowledge:

Of the Dragons which Aldrovandus has not seen with his own eyes, he particularly describes two only. [. . .] 2. The Basilisk, which is of three kinds: the Heliochrysos, or golden coloured, quod videt, accendit, et inflammat [which views, kindles, and inflames]; the Chrysocephalos, or golden headed, quod videt, perterrefacit, et occidit [which views, terrifies thoroughly, and kills]; and the Hæmatitis, or blood coloured, cujus ictu percussum animal confestim carnibus nudatur [whose strike pierces the animal to immediately expose the meat]. All of these have eight legs and a little crown on their heads, and live in the African deserts. Some say they have wings, but so small that they are useless for flying. The Weasel, fortified by the herb rue, defies the Basilisk; the crowing of a Cock puts it to flight and kills it: but besides these two, no other animal will approach even its dead body. (Plin. vi. ult.) Yet it may be securely hunted by any one who carries the herb basil (ocymum) with him. Spectacles are a very useful defence against its killing by a look, and so also are the ashes of its enemy the Weasel, or a drachm of musk mixed with poppy juice.

©1998 Jonathan Hunt

Alchemical generation. Basilisks and cockatrices are small dragons, sterile things created by an odd manner of spontaneous generation first discovered (and still performed) by alchemists and beast masters. When the egg of a snake or toad is hatched by a rooster, the tadpole or snakelet will be a basilisk. When the egg of a rooster (somehow) is hatched by a snake or toad, the chick will be a cockatrice.

Distinct appearance. The basilisk resembles a crowned snake or lizard and attacks with its deadly gaze. The cockatrice resembles a chicken with reptilian features and attacks with its deadly bite. The victim of their venom will undergo an agonizing demise as their flesh rapidly turns to stone.

Amphysian Cockatrice

Elemental affinity. While the basilisk and cockatrice are renowned for petrifying their prey, this represents just one variety of these dreadful monsters. All basilisks and cockatrices have an elemental affinity, commonly denoted by the color of their scales or feathers (credits to 13th Age). The black favor earth and petrify their prey, red favor fire and ignite their prey, green favor water and liquefy their prey, white favor air and evaporate their prey, while blue favor cold and freeze their prey. Each variety may have a more poetic personal name, such as "pyrolisk" or "iceglare serpent," but I find it easier to call them red cockatrices and blue basilisks.

Aldrovandi's Basilisk

Chunky diet. Their deadly venom is not simply for display, but serves a vital function. The basilisk and cockatrice have temperamental digestive systems and may only consume prey that has fallen to their venom. They will tolerate no other food.

Idiosyncratic weaknesses. Supposedly basilisks and cockatrices are vulnerable to certain talismans and other protections. The weasel and other mustelids are said to prey upon them, the crowing of a rooster is said to be fatal, and the mirror is said to reflect the basilisk's gaze back upon it and to trick the territorial cockatrice into fighting an illusory rival. Hence, those traveling in areas known to host these creatures are known to carry weasels, roosters, mirrors and other charms with them just in case.

Pliny's Basilisk

Relevant links

• http://www.theoi.com/Thaumasios/Basiliskoi.html
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/cockatrice
• http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast265.htm
• http://from-bedroom-to-study.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-perfidious-perils-of-baleful.html
• http://hackslashmaster.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-ecology-of-cockatrice.html
• http://mistholme.com/dictionary/cockatrice/
• https://forum.rpg.net/printthread.php?t=722158&pp=200
• http://vomanomalous.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-basilisks-of-copenhagen.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cock_egg
• http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BasiliskAndCockatrice
• http://tomeofhorrors.com/monsters.php?mid=143
• https://themanwithahammer.blogspot.com/2020/02/osr-basilisks.html
• https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/06/basilisk/
• https://www.blackdrago.com/species/basilisk.htm
• https://backflipdungeon.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/basilisk-a-stone-cold-killer/