What is the basilisk in Psalm 90?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, Psalm 90 (91 in the Masoretic numbering), known as the "Prayer of Help" or "He who dwells in the help of the Most High," is a cornerstone of our daily prayer life, recited in the 6th Hour and the Compline hours of the Agpeya.

When the Psalm says, "You shall tread upon the asp and the basilisk; the lion and the dragon you shall trample underfoot," it uses highly symbolic and zoo-theological language to describe the victory of the believer over the distinct manifestations of the devil.

1. The Literal and Mythological Context

In antiquity, the basilisk (from the Greek basiliskos, meaning "little king") was feared as the king of serpents. It was believed to be a deadly creature that could kill not only with its venomous bite but with its hiss and even its mere gaze. In the Coptic Septuagint and the Sahidic/Bohairic versions of the Psalms, this term is used to represent a lethal, hidden, and authoritative evil.

2. Patristic Interpretation: The "King" of Sin

The Church Fathers, including St. Athanasius the Apostolic and St. Cyril of Alexandria, interpret these four creatures (asp, basilisk, lion, dragon) as representing different tactics of the enemy:

• The Asp: Represents sudden, sneaky temptation or "whispered" sins like gossip and slander.
• The Basilisk: Because it is the "king" of serpents, it represents the sin of pride. Pride is the "king" of all sins and the "poison" that kills the soul even from a distance. It also represents the power of heresy, which, like the basilisk’s gaze, can corrupt a soul simply by being looked upon or entertained without spiritual discernment.
• The Lion: Represents open, violent persecution and rage.
• The Dragon: Represents the deep-seated, ancient malice of Satan and the "swallowing up" of the soul in despair.

3. Christological Fulfillment

The ultimate "Treader" upon the basilisk is Our Lord Jesus Christ. In Coptic iconography and theology, we see Christ trampling underfoot the serpent and the basilisk during the Resurrection.

• By His Incarnation and His death on the Cross, Christ crushed the head of the "little king" (the basilisk/Satan), who thought he reigned over the earth.
• In the Gospel of St. Luke (10:19), Christ extends this authority to us: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy."

4. Spiritual Application for the Believer

When you pray this Psalm in the Agpeya, you are making a declaration of spiritual warfare:

• Victory over Malice: Treading on the basilisk means that through the power of the Holy Spirit, the poisons of the world—lust, anger, and especially pride—cannot harm your spiritual health.
• No Fear of the Enemy: Just as the basilisk was said to kill with a look, the "looks" of the world (envy or the "evil eye") are rendered powerless by the "shadow of the Most High" mentioned earlier in the Psalm.

The basilisk in Psalm 90 is the symbol of the deadly authority of the devil, specifically manifested as pride and heresy. By praying this Psalm, the Coptic Orthodox Christian affirms that under the protection of the Cross, even the most "kingly" or lethal powers of darkness are crushed under the feet of the faithful.