"The Chicken-lizard" by Laura Denise Galiffe

The basilisk you've drawn seems very threatening despite the fact that it doesn't seem very large. You've also managed to incorporate all the different animal aspects very cunningly. And, as a connoisseur of fantasy, I've got to add to the Basilisk/Cocatrice debate. AD&D does classify the basilisk and the cocatrice as different creatures but, as most people are when it comes to fantasy material, they've been liberal in their interpretation (which is perfectly fine, so long as people understand that there are multiple interpretations). The cockatrice and the basilisk originated as one and the same animal in Greek mythology, perhaps stemming from stories of the hooded cobras in Egypt, and was legends and stories of the creature were incorporated into the European mythos later in time. The cockatrice/basilisk was the serpent king, and there are many myths and legends about it from whence we derive our modern day versions of the creature. In the Encyclopedia Mythica, it describes the basilisk thus: Pliny the Elder described it simply as a snake with a golden crown. By the Middle Ages, it had become a snake with the head of a cock, and sometimes with the head a human.

I love your picture. Im planning on getting a tattoo of a Cockatrice or Basilisk (I always thought the two names were interchangable). I am having trouble finding quality pictures of them, if anyone could help, i would most appreciate it.

p.s.
I always liked the pictures where it appeared more rooster-like.

Yes a heated conversation on a mythical animal, Hmm it cant be ether of those to creatures so it gets its own category
Lets call it a Lizchickard and got eat some Fast food.



Mmmm Lizchickard wings ..... Ohww there spicy

He's very well done, whatever he is. Almost so ugly he's cute.... ALMOST. --Liss

Look at those drum sticks!!! **gets turned to stone**

AH! It's got chicken legs... *runs up and hugs chicken lizard thing*

They're all wrong... The basilisk is a giant snake that is hatched from a chicken egg by a toad. It's gaze is deadly to anyone that looks into its eyes. An indirect gaze (like through a mirror) petrifies a person. No, I didn't just get that from Harry Potter. I already knew it before the book was even thought of.
The basilisk is said to be the king of all snakes, and the rooster's crow is deadly to it... or shoving a sword through its head as portrayed in Harry Potter but that's beside the point.

this has so much p o r n. It s u c k s.

Im confused...

"They're all wrong... The basilisk is a giant snake that is hatched from a chicken egg by a toad. It's gaze is deadly to anyone that looks into its eyes. An indirect gaze (like through a mirror) petrifies a person. No, I didn't just get that from Harry Potter. I already knew it before the book was even thought of.
The basilisk is said to be the king of all snakes, and the rooster's crow is deadly to it."

Actually, that is a fairly modern rendition, if you'll pardon me. That is a somewhat reptilian version of the TRADITIONAL cockatrice, of which males of the species may be called basilisks. The root 'basilius' means 'princely' -- a referrence to the coxcomb on the top of the head. This coxcomb must be present on males of even the modern basilisks (which are, as the other said, giant snakes with eyes that kill or maim on sight or else turn people to stone). Coincidentally, this modern conception of the basilisk can be directly linked to the Medusa figure of ancient Greek mythology. . . . In case anyone wanted to know.