Serqet: The Scorpion Goddess Who Turned Fear Into Protection and Healing
Let’s continue our look in the many ancient Egyptian gods,
and this time I am going to talk about Serqet.
Serqet was associated with scorpions and their sting. In a country
where these animals were part of everyday life, the connection would have felt
very real. A scorpion’s sting could be dangerous, even deadly, and it must have
felt like constant risk. It makes sense then that a goddess would be linked to
it, as a way of trying to gain some understanding and maybe even some control.
Serqet went on to become more closely associated with
protection and healing. She was believed to guard against venomous bites and
stings, and her name is sometimes understood to mean “she who causes the throat
to breathe,” connecting her to saving people who had been poisoned.
Over time, Serqet also became connected to the afterlife as
many gods did. She was one of the protective goddesses linked to the canopic
jars. She guarded the organs of the deceased, ensuring that nothing harms those
who have already passed on. She protected the dead alongside Isis, Nephthys,
and Neith.
She is often depicted with a scorpion on her head. Which is
a warning and a symbol of her power. Ancient Egyptians did not try to remove
fear from their beliefs, instead they gave a purpose.
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