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[[Image:Catoblepas.JPG|thumb|right|210px|An heraldic representation of the Catoblepas]] | |||
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The catoblepas was a creature that | ==Nature== | ||
The '''catoblepas''' (from the Greek καταβλέ<!--epsilon with acute accent-->πω, 'to look downwards') is a legendary creature from Ethiopia, described first by Pliny the Elder and later by Claudius Aelianus. It has the body of a buffalo and a head of a hog (swine)|hog. Its back were full of scales that protected the beast, and its head was always pointing downwards.Its stare or breath can either turn people into stone, or kill them. | |||
Pliny (''Natural History'', 8.77) described it as a mid-sized creature, sluggish, with a heavy head and a face always turned to the ground. He thought its gaze, like that of the basilisk, was lethal, making the heaviness of its head quite fortunate. | |||
Claudius Aelianus (''On the Nature of Animals'', 7.6) provided a fuller description: the creature was a mid-sized herbivore, about the size of a bull, with a heavy mane, narrow, bloodshot eyes, scaly backs and shaggy eyebrows. The head was so heavy that the beast could only look down. In his description, the animal's gaze was not lethal, but its breath was poison, since it ate only poisonous vegetation. | |||
Both authors were probably referring to the gnu or pangolin. | |||
==Art/Fiction== | |||
The Catoblepas is a common monster in many videogames and roleplaying games. Catoblepas appeared in various Castlevania videogames such as Aria of Sorrow for GBA and Dawn of Sorrow for Nintendo DS as an enemy monster. It has also appeared in multiple Final Fantasy games as either a powerful monster later in the games or as the summoned creature, "Shoat". This creature also appears by name in Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga as a boss monster. Although it boasts a similar appearance, the creature does not attack based on the legend. In Dungeons and Dragons, the catoblepas is a deadly and notorious monster; in the Forgotten Realms setting it is even milked to make an exotic cheese known as "Death Cheese" in reference to its deadly glare.{{fact}} Catoblepas is Monster in My Pocket #20. The catoblepas appears too in Omega (roguelike game). | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://www.theoi.com/Thaumasios/Katoblepones.html Descriptions of the catoblepas] | |||
[[Category:Hybrids]] | |||
[[Category:Heraldic beasts]] | |||
Revision as of 19:51, 27 September 2006
Nature
The catoblepas (from the Greek καταβλέπω, 'to look downwards') is a legendary creature from Ethiopia, described first by Pliny the Elder and later by Claudius Aelianus. It has the body of a buffalo and a head of a hog (swine)|hog. Its back were full of scales that protected the beast, and its head was always pointing downwards.Its stare or breath can either turn people into stone, or kill them.
Pliny (Natural History, 8.77) described it as a mid-sized creature, sluggish, with a heavy head and a face always turned to the ground. He thought its gaze, like that of the basilisk, was lethal, making the heaviness of its head quite fortunate.
Claudius Aelianus (On the Nature of Animals, 7.6) provided a fuller description: the creature was a mid-sized herbivore, about the size of a bull, with a heavy mane, narrow, bloodshot eyes, scaly backs and shaggy eyebrows. The head was so heavy that the beast could only look down. In his description, the animal's gaze was not lethal, but its breath was poison, since it ate only poisonous vegetation.
Both authors were probably referring to the gnu or pangolin.
Art/Fiction
The Catoblepas is a common monster in many videogames and roleplaying games. Catoblepas appeared in various Castlevania videogames such as Aria of Sorrow for GBA and Dawn of Sorrow for Nintendo DS as an enemy monster. It has also appeared in multiple Final Fantasy games as either a powerful monster later in the games or as the summoned creature, "Shoat". This creature also appears by name in Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga as a boss monster. Although it boasts a similar appearance, the creature does not attack based on the legend. In Dungeons and Dragons, the catoblepas is a deadly and notorious monster; in the Forgotten Realms setting it is even milked to make an exotic cheese known as "Death Cheese" in reference to its deadly glare.Template:Fact Catoblepas is Monster in My Pocket #20. The catoblepas appears too in Omega (roguelike game).