The catoblepas is one of the most horrible monsters in all mythology. This beast eats poisonous plants so it can exhale smelly toxic fumes, and, even worse, one look of its eyes turns any living thing into a statue of solid stone. Thankfully, this beast can't lift up its head very high, and spends most of its life dragging its noggin' through muddy soil.
Ironside: Some stories say that this beast has scales on its body that are as hard as iron. Few enemies, be they animal or human, are able to pierce this armor, even with the strongest or sharpest weapons.
Dirty Mouth: Catoblepas' head is so huge and heavy that the creature can't hold it up. The beast drags its pig-like snout through the mud as it walks, with its mouth open and tongue hanging out. The animal picks up dirt and grime as it trudges along.
Wilde Thing[]
Wildebeests may have created the myth of the legendary catoblepas.
Rumors of the catoblepas' existence have floated through Africa and Europe for centuries. The first known report of this beast came from the Ancient Roman writer Pliny. Pliny claimed to have seen this beast while traveling to northern Africa when it was first being explored by the Romans. Since then, catoblepas has appeared in many stories, including one by French writer Gustave Flaubert, in which the beast tells Saint Anthony of its sad existence. Those who doubt catoblepas is real think Pliny saw a grazing wildebeest, with its head bent down to eat grass, and mistook it for a monster.
Stinky Breath: Legend has it that the catoblepas spends its days munching on poisonous plants. This gives the monster such bad breathe that it supposedly can breathe out deeply to create a poisonous cloud around its body.
Oh Gnaw! With its head dragging through the mud all the time, this monster can rarely see anything. Some stories claim that the beast once ate its own front legs by mistake because it couldn't see what it was munching on.
Stone Cold[]
The catoblepas looks like a pitiful creature, but anything that looks into the monster's eyes discovers its real power. Stories say that European adventurers who went to Africa would be so curious upon seeing a catoblepas that they'd lift its head up to get a good look. Natives knew the danger, but were often too late to stop the explorers-any living thing that looks a catoblepas in the eye is instantly turned to stone.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The catoblepas is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in If Looks Could Kill on Monster Mania 56.
- It is then featured in Where In The World? on Monster Mania 59.
- It is once again featured in Mistaken Identity on Monster Mania 68.
- While the description and drawing gives the catoblepas a boar-like depiction, many also compare it to a wildebeest or other large mammals. Going off of the boar depiction, it is the second swine-based Monsters of the Mind, after the Erymanthian Boar.
- The catoblepas is one of two monsters capable of turning victims to stone, along with the Basilisk and Gorgons.
- All three appear in packet set 4.