3. Basilisk
The basilisk, from the Greek word meaning “little king”, is a legendary reptile believed to be the king of serpents. The basilisk is often represented as a crested snake and sometimes as a rooster with a snake’s tail. As beasts go this one is quite vicious. Fire erupts from the mouth and kills anything in its path, namely birds, the hiss of the basilisk can kill humans. Its bite can cause a person to fear water, and if it looks at you the wrong way you are dead.
Fortunately, the humble weasel is the basilisk’s nemesis. The smell from the weasel’s urine is particularly disliked by the basilisk, and, according to Leonardo Da Vinci, when the two beasts fight, the weasel’s urine is so pungent that it kills the basilisk and also the weasel.
On the basilisk’s ability to kill with its odor, voice, and glare, Leonardo Da Vinci remarked: “It resembles a snake, but does not move by wriggling but from the centre forwards to the right. It is said that one of these, being killed with a spear by one who was on horseback, and its venom flowing on the spear, not only the man but the horse also died. It spoils the wheat and not only that which it touches but where it breathes the grass dries and the stones are split.”
This hideous creature was probably inspired by reports of cobras. The king cobra has a crown-like symbol on its head and several species of spitting cobras can use their venom to incapacitate from a distance.