cockatrice
thumb|right|A cockatrice overdoor at Belvedere Castle (1869) in New York's [[Central Park.]]
Article
10 sectionsContents
- Legend
- Origins
- Abilities
- Cultural references
- In heraldry
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|right|A cockatrice overdoor at Belvedere Castle (1869) in New York's [[Central Park.]]
A cockatrice is a mythical beast, essentially a two-legged dragon, wyvern, or serpent-like creature with a rooster's head. Described by Laurence Breiner as "an ornament in the drama and poetry of the Elizabethans", it was featured prominently in English thought and myth for centuries. They are created by a chicken egg hatched by a toad or snake.