Chapter 117: Tiresias of Thebes (ca. 1200- ca.1150 BCE)

The Wizard

Tiresias of Thebes was a blind prophet of Apollo who was renowned as the most famous soothsayer of ancient Greece. He is also one of the few wizards who has faced a basilisk and lived. Being blind, he was able to attack the basilisk without being petrified by looking into the basilisk's eyes. Being clairvoyant, he knew exactly when the basilisk was about to strike and held up a polished bronze shield to the giant snake which upon seeing its eyes reflected was instantly slain. He was thus able to obtain the basilisk fang he used to make his wand.