Basil (mythology)

See also: Basil

The basil (of the old Greek βασιλίσκος/ basilískos , diminutive of βασιλεύς/ basileús , “king”) is a Reptile fabulous.

Representation

According to the Greek poet Nicandre de Colophon (2nd century of our era), it acts of a Serpent of small size, with the brilliant body. In the ancient tradition, the venom of the basil is famous mortal and without antidote.

In texts in old French, one finds the term of basilicoq . Indeed, with the Middle Ages, it takes the appearance of a Coq with tail of dragon or of a Serpent with the wings of Coq, which comes from egg of a hen or a snake brooded by a Crapaud.

The legend says that a basil has the capacity to kill by its glance if he sees his victim before she sees it, by his breath so much his breath is feeling reluctant, or even by the contact of his skin, since it secretes venom. It is said that the only way of coming to end is to present a mirror to him, since it is vulnerable to its own image. The odor of the long pitchfork and the song of the cock are also considered alone animal weapons able to overcome it.

This fabulous being is the incarnation even royal capacity which those which it strikes down miss regards. It is one of the symbols of Satan and the representation of the mortal danger which one cannot avoid in time and whose only protection of a divine Ange can preserve.

Basil in the modern popular culture

  • Voltaire Zadig chapter XVI " The basilic."
  • Harry Potter, the character invented by J.K. Rowling, must face a basil in the novel Harry Potter and the room of the secrecies (1998).
  • François Bourgeon also evokes this myth in the Last Song of Malaterre , the third tome cheese of the series of Cartoon the Companions of the twilight .
  • the Basilic is also an Super-unpleasant in the world of Marvel, it treats a Super-héros which attacks it megalomaniac masked.
  • In the Roleplay Palladium , the basil is a dragon.
  • In the roleplays Keeps and Dragons (forgotten Kingdoms), the basil is a creature able to transform of a glance people into stone. However, they cannot be caught some with thealive ones.
  • Brian Perro mentions also the basil in the first tome cheese of the series Amos Daragon

Related articles

basil|basil
  • Cocatrix
  • This myth presents strong similarities with that of the gorgone Méduse.

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