Basilisk Surplice

The Heavenly Victory Star Basilisk Surplice (天捷星バジリスクの冥衣, Tenshosei Bajirisuku no Sapurisu) is one of Hades' Surplices created for his warriors, the Specters. The Basilisk Surplice has only been used by Sylphid in Saint Seiya and Sylphid in Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas.

History
The Basilisk Surplice was created by the order of Hades as one of the 108 armors that would protect the deity's warriors, the Specters. Each Surplice has an object form which in this case represents the Basilisk, but it is unknown if they have a container like the Saints' Cloth Boxes. Each Surplice was bonded with a Demon Star, whereas the Basilisk Surplice was bonded with the Heavenly Victory Star. Since the age of Myth, the Basilisk Surplice has been regenerated every two hundred years in time for the Holy War between Athena and Hades. A new person as been chosen to wear it in time for each war.

Saint Seiya
In the Holy War of 1990, the Surplice was worn by Sylphid who had been chosen for the Heavenly Victory Star. Sylphid wore the Surplice during the Saints' invasion of Hades' Castle and the Underworld. He would battle several of the Saints and was easily victorious in his first bout, but during his second battle with Dragon Shiryu was more difficult. The Saint was a tough opponent and even though Sylphid had help from his comrades Alraune Queen and Minotaurus Gordon, the Specter was defeated. However, even with the Basilisk Surplice fractured in pieces, Sylphid struggled after the Saint and was to his surprise disintegrated in the Pathway of the Gods along with the Basilisk Surplice.

The Lost Canvas
In the Holy War of the 18th Century the Surplice was worn by the former incarnation of Sylphid, who was also named Sylphid and who had been chosen for the Heavenly Victory Star. He wore the Basilisk Surplice in battles with fellow Specters until he was subjugated by Wyvern Rhadamanthys and devoted himself to his servitude. The Surplice appeared in a vision when Hades was awakened for the war. Sylphid was present in the Surplice during an audience where the newly awakened Hades presented himself. Sylphid was donning the armor when he and Harpy Valentine tried to calm Rhadamanthys when the latter was rampaging from a newly given power. After a slight success, Sylphid was ordered down to Athena's Sanctuary to retrieve Athena's Cloth. There he fought against the soldiers of the Sanctuary and ended up fighting the Gold Saint of Libra Dohko. After a fierce battle, Sylphid was caught in Dohko's grasp who proceeded to crush him to death, with the Basilisk Surplice cracking and become splintered.

Design and Creation
The Surplice represents the mythical Basilisk, said to be able to kill with its gaze. The Basilisk was said to be born from a snake or toad egg that was hatched by a cockerel. The first known mention of the creature comes from Pliny the Elder's Natural History book, where the Basilisk is mentioned to come from Cyrenaica, the eastern province of Libya. It was a small snake of 12 fingers in length with a white spot on its head like a diadem. It had such a powerful poison that would kill anything it touched, even rocks, but had a natural enemy in the Weasel.

During the middle ages, the Basilisk received more features from roosters, and was such the inspiration for the appearance of the Basilisk Surplice.

The Basilisk Surplice's first appearance was as an unnamed Specter at Hades castle in Chapter 83: Awaken! 8th Sense, the design lacked the backwards-bent feathers and horns of his helmet, but were added later in the same chapter.

The Basilisk Surplice went through several colouring phases, from the first one which was the original all dark purple used in the manga. Then there was the second coloring which was visible in the opening sequences for each episodes of the different OVA series. This version was prominently brown with purple features. Number three can be seen in the first episode of the Elysion OVA, "Road to Elysion" which is more prominently purple and does not sport any brown colour but does include teal gems. If these changes affected the colour of Sylphid himself is unknown as his skin and hair are normally concealed by his helmet.

A female version was designed by the staff of the MMORPG Saint Seiya Online, which is smaller and does not include parts for the stomach or any black fabric, plus the addition of breast cups. Both the male and the female versions are completely purple in colour in the game.

Appearances

 * Saint Seiya – "Chapter 83: Awaken!! The Eight Sense"
 * Saint Seiya – "Chapter 99: Between Hell and Utopia"
 * Saint Seiya – "Chapter 100: The Way to Elysion"
 * Saint Seiya – "Chapter 101: Deadly Battle! 3 vs. 1!!"
 * Saint Seiya: Hades - Chapter Elysion – "OVA 1: The Deadly Battle to Elysion"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 6: Awakening"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 11: Evil Stars"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 145: Way Down the Sanctuary"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 145: Athena's Cloth"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 148: Scent of Blood"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 149: Poisoned Wind"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "Chapter 150: Isolated Wings"
 * Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – "OVA 3: The Holy War Begins"
 * Saint Seiya Online – "Saint Seiya Online"
 * Saint Seiya. Awakening - "Saint Seiya: Awakening"