Basel, Switzerland in 1474 was a place where people farmed and had livestock. One fine day one of the farmers noticed that one of his roosters had laid an egg. So he went into town to the leaders for guidance. The leaders decided that this could be one of two things: a freak of nature or the interference of the devil. Folklore at the time said that if a rooster laid an egg he had made a pact with the devil and his offspring will grow into a terrifying creature known as the Basilisk, a half rooster half dragon that breathes fire and could kill with a glance.
The only way to uncover the truth would be in formal court. They were going to put the rooster on trial. So, the rooster was given a defense lawyer who argued for his side and there was a prosecuting attorney who argued against him. The judge listened to both sides and decided on a verdict of guilty. The punishment for having congress with the devil, much like those for whiches at the time, was to be burned at the stake. So the rooster and the egg were burned at the stake. No, they did not eat the cooked rooster when it was over.
Science today has shown that some hens have a hormonal imbalance that causes them to display plumage that is similar to that of a rooster. So it would seem that the "rooster" was likely a hen. Oddly enough, the town became quite enamored with the Basilisk symbol and there are statues, paintings, and it appears on the official coat of arms. So it seems that that poor "rooster" lives on forever in the hearts and minds of the people of Basel. The rooster who made a pact with the devil.
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