Gerastos

Gerastos (plural: Gerastoi) is a Greek term referring to a cornuted serpent or horned serpent. It is mentioned primarily in ancient and medieval bestiaries and natural histories. The Gerastos was believed to possess horns on its head, which differentiated it from other types of serpents.

According to some accounts, the horns of the Gerastos were prized for their medicinal or magical properties. It was believed that those who possessed the horns could use them to ward off venom or protect themselves from snake bites. The animal was generally considered dangerous and difficult to acquire, requiring specialized knowledge or techniques to hunt.

Mentions of the Gerastos appear in works such as the Physiologus, a popular allegorical text that assigns symbolic meaning to various animals, as well as in the writings of Pliny the Elder, who described it in his Natural History. In these sources, the Gerastos often serves as a symbolic representation of evil or temptation, its horns symbolizing aggression or power. However, specific symbolic interpretations varied depending on the context.

The Gerastos is generally considered a mythical creature, although its depiction may have been influenced by observations of real horned reptiles or snakes. The name itself is derived from the Greek word "keras," meaning horn.