A basilisk is a legendary monster that can kill with a glance. It is also said to leave a trail of deadly poison in its wake. The basilisk was a staple of European bestiaries of the ancient era and the Middle Ages, in which it is often referred to as the king of serpents. According to legend, the monster is born of a serpent's egg hatched by a hen.
Though the basilisk is always reptilian, its form differs according to the source. Descriptions of the basilisk fall into three main categories, but there is a great deal of variation within each. The basilisk may be described as a snake, a lizard, or a cockatrice, another legendary creature that is half serpent and half rooster.
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