Once upon a time, in a cave below where the Tanner Fountain (Gerberberglein) is now located, a basilisk lived. It is said that it kills even with its poisonous breath, and today it has become a symbol of Basel.
In the very ancient city of Basel, Switzerland, there is a tranquil little street called Gerberberglein, close to the banks of the Rhine and the bustling Marktplatz in a Swiss city full of legends. You will also see many depictions of the basilisk throughout the city. Painted on the walls, statues on the fountains. Today, the area is surrounded by charming medieval architecture, cobblestone streets and the bustle of everyday life, but could a basilisk also stand here?
Although the name Basel and Basilisks seems to be accidental, there are many stories that long ago a terrible basilisk lurked under the medieval city. His home was a cave where today the Gerber Brunnen, or tanner's fountain, is located.
What is a basilisk?
The basilisk is one of the oldest creatures in European folklore, first appearing in texts as early as the 1st century AD and in Greek folklore. Medieval bestiaries described him as the “king of snakes” – hence the name basiliskos, Greek for “little king”. She was often associated with death, poison and forbidden knowledge, a creature born of unnatural acts: a snake hatched from a rooster's egg, warmed by a toad or snake. His incredible power to kill with a glance made him the embodiment of plague and unholy wrath.
It was believed that basilisks hatched from eggs laid by roosters (which must have been 7 or 9 years ancient) in a pile of snake excrement. This combination created a creature with the head of a rooster and the tail and wings of a huge snake.
Monster near Basel
According to a legend that has haunted Basel since the Middle Ages, the basilisk is a monstrous hybrid said to be part rooster, part snake and part toad that once lived in a gloomy, damp cave beneath the Gerberberglein. The cave, now sealed and lost in time, was once believed to be the domain of this deadly beast. It was said that one glance from the basilisk could kill a person, turning the body to stone or burning the life from the body. Even the creature's breath was deadly.
No one dared to approach the cave. Animals avoided the area, and plants withered as if poisoned by the air itself. The inhabitants lived in terror, avoiding the cave and whispering tales of brave fools who had tried in vain to slay the beast.
The story of the basilisk egg
It is said that on a Thursday morning in 1474, in front of Laurentius, a black rooster more than ten years ancient laid a huge, oblong egg in the middle of Gerbergasse. Typically, in the basilisk tradition, a rooster lays the egg when he is seven or nine years ancient. Everyone knew it must have been a basilisk egg and panic spread.
They sentenced the rooster to death before the egg could hatch. Once the egg hatches, no sword or knight will be able to kill it. To destroy the monster, a mirror had to be pulled out so that the basilisk could see its reflection and die from its own power.
They cut open the rooster and found three eggs. After killing him, they threw him into the pyre, ensuring that they would never be bothered by the threat of the Basilisk again.
This account can be found in the same chronicle from 1624, which mentions a basilisk living underground in the cave.
Basilisk as a symbol of Basel
Although the monster was defeated, the basilisk never left the history of Basel. In fact, it has become one of the city's most enduring symbols. The first known illustration of a basilisk in Basel dates from 1448, when it was depicted holding the city's coat of arms.
The basilisk holding the coat of arms of Basel has its origins in heraldry from a monument recalling the disastrous earthquake of 1356 that completely destroyed the city: “Basilisk, you poisonous worm and fable, now you will hold the shield of the stately city of Basel.” This motto probably comes from the early 15th century.
To this day, basilisk statues can be seen throughout the city – suspended from fountains, carved into bridges and hidden in iron balustrades. The most notable is the 19th-century Basilisk Fountain, designed to reflect the city's medieval past and its victorious confrontation with the beast.
While these statues may seem whimsical or decorative today, their roots go back to something much darker – a time when people believed that monsters crawled beneath their feet.
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Basilisk of Basel: The Beast at Gerberberglein
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Basilisk: fairy tale and photos of the heraldic animal of Basel
The legend of the Basilisk of Basel
Image Source: Pixabay.com
