Serket

Description

In Egyptian mythology, Serket (also spelt Selchis, Selket, Selkis, Selkhit, Selkit, Selqet, Serkhet, Serket-hetyt, Serqet and Serquet) is the goddess of healing stings and bites who originally was the deification of the scorpion. Scorpion stings lead to paralysis and Serket’s name describes this, as it means (she who) tightens the throat, however, Serket’s name also can be read as meaning (she who) causes the throat to breathe, and so, as well as being seen as stinging the unrighteous, Serket was seen as one who could cure scorpion stings and the effects of other poisons such as snake bites. In Ancient Egyptian art, Serket was shown as a scorpion (a symbol found on the earliest artifacts of the culture, such as the protodynastic period), or as a woman with a scorpion on her head. Although Serket doesn’t appear to have had temples, she had a sizable number of priests in many communities. She is one of the four protector goddesses who protect the shrine that houses the four canopic jars of King Tut. Selket has healing powers over venomous bites and she was patroness of magician-medics dealing with poisonous bites.

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