Opis bazyliszka w „Etymologiach” (XII 4, 6–9) Izydora z Sewilli

The article speaks about the depiction of the basilisk found in St. Isidore’s of Seville Etymologies. The surviving description greatly influenced the information on this snake found in mediaeval bestiaries and encyclopaedias. The portrayal is a remarkable example of the gradual mythicisation of the basilisk’s features. The process was partly caused by misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the source material. The article shows how the compilation of many different sources, from many historical periods, can create an extraordinary depiction of a creature that in its early descriptions was devoid of almost all of its fantastical characteristics.