Up Next
Back to Show
Monstrum
Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents
Season 3
Episode 7
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.
Support Provided By
11:31
Why do we have such a fascination with apocalyptic scenarios?
9:09
What could possibly have prompted the creation of this twisted tale?
9:54
Learn about the surprising history of this shapeshifting creature.
6:40
The mythological origins of iconic dragons from Game of Thrones and The Hobbit.
6:04
Rethinking the characterization of Frankenstein's Monster as more sympathetic and soulful.
5:51
Meet the Headless Horseman and his terrifying cousin, the Irish Dullahan.
5:44
Medusa has inspired art for centuries, whether as a symbol of protection or a monster.
6:12
What do the Sagas of the Icelanders and Game of Thrones have in common?
