March BasilCockWatch
a month ago
Something that hit the news in several different sources, including ATI, BNN, The Miami Herald, and The Smithsonian Magazine:
They describe an archaeologist, Mr. Tomasz Murzyński, and his discovery of a small badge probably carried by a pilgrim that depicts a basilisk (or a "basilisk dragon" as the World Herald calls it--and then links to an article about cockatrices).
The institution that will eventually display it had this to say: "The history of the creation of badges, or pilgrim's signs, in Western Europe goes back to the early Middle Ages. They had various forms and shapes - spiral, square, in the form of cross, shells, rings, shields. They featured figures of saints, knights, human heads and chests, as well as zoomorphic figures (birds, animals, dragons). The oldest pilgrim badges are related to the St. John's trail. Jacob, they are shaped like a clam shell and date back to the 11th century."
This article from LiveScience suggests that it may be something called a Zilant and not a basilisk after all. I should start making a "cousins" update sometime soon...
A cute video of a sculptor, The Redheaded Poet, working on a baby (hatchling) cockatrice:
A much longer and detailed version of the events in the above video are here.
For old times' sake, a 3d printable cockatrice by Bestiarum Miniatures. From the side it looks like the poor guy has an ax growing out of his chest but it's just really tough bony plates. And from behind...Oooh la la!
A German language article in the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung about the installation of a basilisk statue (a picture here, from the article).
It's apparently a well-known local story, usually commemorated in the weather vane of the church where the incident took place. "According to legend, a basilisk is said to have hatched fifteen eggs under the church, breathing deadly breath on all residents who came too close...including the priest." An egg hunt just in time for Easter!
And a wall hanging I'm looking to get; put in a bid for it over on eBay. Front view and From the Base. I'll try to get a picture of it after it arrives and I've chosen a spot for it.
They describe an archaeologist, Mr. Tomasz Murzyński, and his discovery of a small badge probably carried by a pilgrim that depicts a basilisk (or a "basilisk dragon" as the World Herald calls it--and then links to an article about cockatrices).
The institution that will eventually display it had this to say: "The history of the creation of badges, or pilgrim's signs, in Western Europe goes back to the early Middle Ages. They had various forms and shapes - spiral, square, in the form of cross, shells, rings, shields. They featured figures of saints, knights, human heads and chests, as well as zoomorphic figures (birds, animals, dragons). The oldest pilgrim badges are related to the St. John's trail. Jacob, they are shaped like a clam shell and date back to the 11th century."
This article from LiveScience suggests that it may be something called a Zilant and not a basilisk after all. I should start making a "cousins" update sometime soon...
A cute video of a sculptor, The Redheaded Poet, working on a baby (hatchling) cockatrice:
A much longer and detailed version of the events in the above video are here.
For old times' sake, a 3d printable cockatrice by Bestiarum Miniatures. From the side it looks like the poor guy has an ax growing out of his chest but it's just really tough bony plates. And from behind...Oooh la la!
A German language article in the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung about the installation of a basilisk statue (a picture here, from the article).
It's apparently a well-known local story, usually commemorated in the weather vane of the church where the incident took place. "According to legend, a basilisk is said to have hatched fifteen eggs under the church, breathing deadly breath on all residents who came too close...including the priest." An egg hunt just in time for Easter!
And a wall hanging I'm looking to get; put in a bid for it over on eBay. Front view and From the Base. I'll try to get a picture of it after it arrives and I've chosen a spot for it.