Scorpion

Arachnid which, like the serpen'I, became the object of cults and spells from the earliest times in Egypt, doubtless j'lrincipaily because of the fear of its sting. 'Iwo main species of scorpion are found in Egypt; the paler, more poisonous Biilhridae and the darker, relatively harmless Scorpionidae. The scorpion ideogram, one of the earliest known hieroglyphic signs, was depicted on wooden and ivory labels found in the late Prcdynastic/ Early Dynastic royal cemetery at abydos and also among the cache of cull equipment in the Early Dynastic temple at hierakonrous. A Protodynastic ruler called. scorpion w'as portrayed on ihe ‘Scorpion macchead' from Hierakonpolis.

'Flic goddess SERKE'i was the principal divine personification of the scorpion (although Isis was also said to have been protected from her enemies by seven scorpions), and was usually depicted with a. scorpion perched on her head. Another, less well-known deity, the god Shed (also described as ‘the saviour’), was linked with the scorpion and considered to afford protection against its sting; two stelae dedicated to Shed were found

I. we-draiving of the relief scene on the Scorpion maceheadfrom Hierukonpo/is, showing King Scorpion irenring the while crown and conducting a riiiial, c. SIOO nc. (draws by richard

RIRKISSOS AFTER MARIAS COX)

In a chapel associated with the workmen’s village at Ki-AviARNA. Images of scorpions are also depicted on cippi, a t'pe of stele used to ward off scorpion stings and snake bites from the Late Period onwards (see fiORUS). See also

H. Kanter, ‘’Giftschlangen und Skorpione Nordafrikas’, Die Sahara and Hire Randgehiel i, ed. I-I. SciiiKKKRS (Munich. 1971).

E. H(]RXUN'G and E. Staeuei. ix. Skarahden und andere Siegelainuleite aiis Busier Sammlimgen (Mainz, 1976), 131-3.

J.-C. Goyox, ‘Hcdedyt: Isis-scorpion et Lsis au scorpion: en marge du papyrus dc Brooklyn 47.218.50', BIFAO 78 (1978), 439-58.

P. Bki IRENS, ‘Skorpion’, Lexikon der Agyplologie \ ed. W. Ilelck, E. Otto and W. Westendorf (Wiesbaden, 1984), 987-9.

F K. AXEL, 'La nepe et le scorpion': un monographie sur la deesse Serkel (Paris, 1984).