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Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents

Season 3 Episode 7 | 10m 31s

A venomous snake who can kill with its gaze alone, the basilisk has terrified us for thousands of years. But it also has another name—the cockatrice. That’s right, the reptile-chicken hybrid creature and the poisonous snake are actually the same monster. Find out how a real snake likely inspired tales of a mythological serpent in the 1st century CE that over time turned into a mythological beast.

Aired: 05/18/21
Extras
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?
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Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?