The Cockatrice - Mythology
Time Period:
As far back as the 1st century, the name “basilisk” was used when referring to two different mythological creatures, the basilisk and the cockatrice. It wasn’t until the 14th century before the cockatrice was referred to by its current name and as its own entity.
Region(s) and Geography:
Since it was mistakenly assumed to be the same as a basilisk for centuries, it is unknown whether or not they share the same point of origin. Basilisks can be traced back to folklore in Europe and the Middle East. Because of how deadly they were, they were said to have been the cause of grass and trees dying in the Middle East, turning land into deserts. Meanwhile, England is where it first began being written about as its own entity. This can be seen in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Appearance:
What matches across all of my sources is that the creature has the long tail of a serpent. But what separates this creature from the basilisk is that it has the head and talons of a chicken. The body itself varies, as it can either be that of a serpent, or of a chicken. Additionally, the beast also has wings that have the appearance of a chicken or dragon’s wings. It is also said that it stands upright, unlike normal serpents.
Powers:
The cockatrice is able to kill anything with a stare or a touch, turning its victims to salt or stone in the process. In some cases, it’s said to breathe fire, while other reports state that it has a deadly poisonous breath. This poison is so strong that it can climb up a spear to kill both the person holding it and the horse they are riding on. In order to defend one’s self from these beasts, their deadly gaze can be reflected back at them, or they can be scared away by a rooster’s crow. But like serpents, its biggest enemy is the weasel, which is immune and able to kill it.
Mythological References:
It is said that a cockatrice comes from a chicken’s egg that has been hatched by a serpent. It was often referenced by Shakespeare, in writings such as in Romeo and Juliet. He often used it to make comparisons to a deadly poison or a wicked stare. It has also been referenced multiple times in Christianity’s Old Testament, though it is unknown if this could have been a mistranslation. It stated that Jesus would be able to place his hand in the Cockatrice’s den, and be unharmed.
Symbolic Meaning:
Because of the crown on its head and its upright strut, the cockatrice has been labeled by many to be the king of serpents. As such, the creature can be seen as a symbol of leadership. In other instances, it has been said to represent sin and the devil, with some believing that it was the very serpent which gave the apple to Eve in the Garden of Eden. It can also be seen as a symbol of destruction, killing all in its path. Additionally, alchemists considered it a symbol of the transmutation.
Resources:
Alekseeva, J. (2016, August 13). Cockatrice. Retrieved August 14, 2017, from https://cg-warrior.deviantart.com/art/Cockatrice-631731849
Bondeson, J. (1999). The Feejee mermaid and other essays in natural and unnatural history. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Hart, H. C. (1888). Scripture natural history. London: Religious Tract Society.
Nugent, B. (2013). Shakespeare Was Irish!: "Did You Ever Hear the Like?...Did You Ever Dream of Such a Thing?" (Pericles). Lulu Press, Inc.
Report of the Marlborough College Natural History Society. (1881). C. Perkins and Son.
Rosen, B. (2009). The mythical creatures bible: the definitive guide to legendary beings. New York: Sterling.
Weinstock, J. A. (2016). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Routledge.
