What Does a Scorpion Symbolize?

Different cultures have attributed various meanings to the scorpion. In Greco-Roman mythology it is a symbol of death, associated with a scorpion that stung Orion's foot, killing him. The ancient Egyptians thought the scorpion was an omen and amulets were made in scorpion shapes as symbols of protection and to ward off evil. In Samaria, the scorpion is connected to the sun and scorpion-men are depicted in ancient writings as guardians of the sacred gateways to enlightenment and pleasure.