Basilisk

Legendary reptile in European mythology

In ancient European bestiaries and folklore, a basilisk ( or) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes any being to die when glanced at. According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene is a small snake, "being not more than twelve inches in length", that is so venomous, it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its path, its gaze likewise just as lethal. According to Pliny, the basilisk's weakness is the odor of a weasel.

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