The cockatrice is most notably known as a large creature that was hatched from the egg of a cock by a serpent. Some of the abilities of the cockatrice are turning people to stone, or killing them, just by a single touch, or glance. The only sure ways of killing the cockatrice are forcing it to look at it’s reflection in the mirror, or allowing it to hear the fatal crow of a rooster. Like the basilisk, with whom it shares many similarities, the cockatrice has been portrayed in three ways: as a giant serpent, a large multi-limbed lizard, and a three foot high cockerel, with the teeth and tail of a serpent[1]. Unlike the basilisk, however, the cockatrice is always portrayed with a set of wings.
Origin: Like the basilisk, the exact origin of the cockatrice is unknown. One of the most known stories of the cockatrice, is from the small village of Wherwell, in Hampshire, England[2]. As the story goes, a cockatrice the village and it’s people until they managed to imprison it in the dungeons below Wherwell Priory. After it was placed there, an announcement was made that a reward would be offered to any who could kill the beast. None prevailed until a man of the name of Green lowered a mirror into the dungeon. At the sight of its reflection, the cockatrice battled against itself until it could fight no more. At that point, the beast was weak enough for Green to at last kill it. Later, after the beast was slain, land near the village was named ‘Green’s Acres’ in honor of the brave man who killed the cockatrice.
Appearance: As stated above, the cockatrice is primarily portrayed in three ways: as a giant serpent, a large multi-limbed lizard, and a three foot high cockerel, with the teeth and tail of a serpent, but unlike the basilisk, the cockatrice has a set or wings.
Influences On Modern Day: Today in the modern world, the cockatrice isn’t quite as popular as it might have once been. One category, in general, that the creature does have an impact on is fantasy fiction. One example of this, in particular is the game, “Dungeons and Dragons’’[3] In the game, the cockatrice is encountered regularly, and looks like an “oversized balloon of a chick with a small tail and ranging from 3 to 8 feet tall, and is kept as livestock” according to Wikipedia.
[1] Wikipedia.org - Basilisk
[2]Wikipedia.org - Cockatrice
[3] Wikipedia.org - Dungeons and Dragons
