Selket was the goddess of scorpians and magic. She was depicted in the form of a woman with a scorpian on her head.
Her roles in Egyptian mythology were many, mostly as a beneficial goddess. She watched over Qebehsenuef, one of the four sons of Horus, who in turn protected the intestines of the deceased. Other connections with the afterlife include her epithet, “Lady of the Beautiful Tent” which referred to her as a protector of the embalmer’s tent. In the Afterlife she was said to watch over a dangerous twist in a pathway. She was also credited with guarding the snake, Apep following his imprisonment in the Underworld.
Selket was also associated with childbirth and nursing. Contrary to her typical benficial characterization, she was also related to the sun’s scorching heat. In the Book of the Dead, she is a protector of the deceased and his teeth are identified with hers.
Magically, Selket was a protector from venomous bites. She was the patroness of magicians who dealt with poisoness bites. Suprisingly though, it was usually [Auset (Isis)] who was invoked in spells against scorpion stings.
Serqet, also known as Selket, Serket or Selcis, is the goddess of healing venomous stings and bites in Egyptian mythology, originally 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 venoms 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 does not appear to have had any temples, she had a sizable number of priests in many communities.
The most dangerous species of scorpion resides in North Africa, and its sting may kill, so Serket was considered a highly important goddess, and was sometimes considered by pharaohs to be their patron. Her close association with the early kings implies that she was their protector, two being referred to as the scorpion kings.
As the protector against venoms and snake bites, Serket often was said to protect the deities from Apep, the great snake-demon of evil, sometimes being depicted as the guard when Apep was captured.
As many of the venomous creatures of Egypt could prove fatal, Serket also was considered a protector of the dead, particularly being associated with venoms and fluids causing stiffening. She was thus said to be the protector of the tents of embalmers, and of the canopic jar associated with venom—the jar of the intestine—which was deified later as Qebehsenuf, one of the Four sons of Horus.
As the guard of one of the canopic jars and a protector, Serket gained a strong association with Aset (Isis), NebtHet (Nephthys), and Neith who also performed similar functions. Eventually, later in Egyptian history that spanned thousands of years and whose pantheon evolved toward a merger of many deities, Serket began to be identified with Isis, sharing imagery and parentage, until finally, Serket became said to be merely an aspect of Isis, whose cult had become very dominant.
also Serket, Serket-hetu, Greek Selkis
Selket, (transliteration srq.t) was a protective goddess, above all of the deceased, together with Isis, Nephthys, and Neith. During the New Kingdom these four were depicted standing at the corners of the coffin and protecting it with their outspread wings.
Selket, tomb of Tutankhamen
GNU Free Documentation License, courtesy wikipedia user Snofru
She was a mistress of magic, defending the sun-god with her charms against his many enemies. As such she was later identified with Isis who wore the byname Great of Magic.