catoblepas

9.9

A dangerous creature with a heavy head whose look kills or turns people to stone

noun
/ˌkætəˈblɛpəs/

Archaic

: catoblepas

Few dared to approach the swamp where the catoblepas was rumored to live.

Examples

The hero narrowly avoided the gaze of the catoblepas during his quest.
The catoblepas is a mythical creature.
Ancient texts describe the catoblepas as a creature feared for its deadly stare.
Look at that catoblepas!
In ancient legends, the catoblepas was feared for its deadly gaze that could bring death to anyone who looked directly at it.
Many travelers wrote about their encounters with the catoblepas, describing how its heavy head seemed to weigh it down as it roamed the plains.
The description of the catoblepas in folklore highlights its terrifying ability to petrify those who met its gaze.

Synonyms

basilisk

vscatoblepas

Literature

6 9.9

A snake in old stories that kills people by looking at them or by its breath

focuses on a heavy head and a gaze that kills or turns to stone

Surface Forms

catoblepas singular

catoblepas plural

Etymology

Catoblepas comes from the Greek parts kata- 'down' and blepein 'to look', so the name literally means 'looking down'. That fits the old story of a heavy-headed beast that kept its head low but whose deadly gaze could kill or turn people to stone.