Human uses of scorpions

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Humans use scorpions both practically, for medicine, food, and pets, and symbolically, whether as gods, to ward off harm, or to associate a product or business with the evident power of the small but deadly animal.

Practical uses

Medicine

The deathstalker's powerful venom contains the 36-amino acid peptide chlorotoxin. This blocks small-conductance chloride channels, immobilizing its prey.[1]

Short-chain

immunosuppressants for the treatment of autoimmune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis).[2]
The venom of Uroplectes lineatus is clinically important in dermatology.[3]

Several scorpion venom toxins have been investigated for medical use. Chlorotoxin from the deathstalker scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus); the toxin blocks small-conductance chloride channels;[1][4] Maurotoxin from the venom of the Tunisian Scorpio maurus blocks potassium channels.[5] Some

cytolytic effects on bacteria, fungi, and yeasts,[6] while meucin-24 and meucin-25 selectively kill Plasmodium falciparum and inhibit the development of Plasmodium berghei, both malaria parasites, but do not harm mammalian cells.[7]

Food

Fried scorpion is traditionally eaten in Shandong, China.[8]

As pets

whip scorpion from Florida, most probably Mastigoproctus giganteus.[9]

Scorpions are sometimes kept as

Popular Science Monthly carried an article entitled "My pet scorpion" as early as 1899.[9]

Symbolic uses

Middle Eastern culture

The scorpion is a significant animal culturally, appearing as a motif in art, especially in Islamic art in the Middle East.[10] A scorpion motif is often woven into Turkish kilim flat-weave carpets, for protection from their sting.[11] The scorpion is perceived both as an embodiment of evil and a protective force such as a dervish's powers to combat evil.[10] In another context, the scorpion portrays human sexuality.[10] Scorpions are used in folk medicine in South Asia, especially in antidotes for scorpion stings.[10]

One of the earliest occurrences of the scorpion in culture is its inclusion, as

Chaldean period.[12]
In ancient Egypt, the goddess Serket was often depicted as a scorpion, one of several goddesses who protected the Pharaoh.[13]

Alongside serpents, scorpions are used to symbolize evil in the New Testament. In Luke 10:19 it is written, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Here, scorpions and serpents symbolize evil.[14] Revelation 9:3 speaks of "the power of the scorpions of the earth."[15]

  • Early Bronze Age Jiroft culture scorpion game board, Iran
    game board
    , Iran
  • Serket, the scorpion goddess of ancient Egypt,[13] Edfu Temple
    Edfu Temple
  • A scorpion motif (two types shown) was often woven into Turkish kilim flatweave carpets, for protection from their sting.[11]
    A scorpion motif (two types shown) was often woven into Turkish kilim flatweave carpets, for protection from their sting.[11]

Western culture

The scorpion with its powerful sting has been used as the name or symbol of various products and brands, including Italy's Abarth racing cars.[16] In the Roman army, the scorpio was a torsion siege engine used to shoot a projectile.[17] The British Army's

mines, was named the Matilda Scorpion.[20]
Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Scorpion, including an 18-gun sloop in 1803,[21] a turret ship in 1863,[22] and a destroyer in 1910.[23] A hand- or forearm-balancing
Scorpion pose, a pose of yoga which was originated in ancient India and influential practice in classical Hinduism which is currently becoming popular in the West.[24] A variety of martial arts films and video games have been entitled Scorpion King.[25][26][27] A Montesa scrambler motorcycle was named Scorpion.[28]

Scorpions have equally appeared in western artforms including film and poetry: the

L'Age d'or (The Golden Age),[29] while Stevie Smith's last collection of poems was entitled Scorpion and other Poems.[30]

Other cultures

Scorpions are among the many animals modelled in the art of the Moche culture of Peru.[31]

Mimbres artists in the south of New Mexico created painted ceramics of scorpions and many other symbolic and mythological animals on funerary bowls. A hole was ritually punched through the bottom of the bowl to "kill" it during a funeral.[32]

  • Moche scorpion ornament in gilded copper, Peru, 6th to 7th century AD
    Moche scorpion ornament in gilded copper, Peru, 6th to 7th century AD
  • Mogollon (Mimbres) ceramic scorpion bowl, New Mexico, 950-1150 AD
    Mogollon (Mimbres) ceramic scorpion bowl, New Mexico, 950-1150 AD
  • Gold ornament with scorpion and centipede, Qingyang, Jiangyin, China
    Gold ornament with scorpion and centipede, Qingyang, Jiangyin, China
  • Anomalobuthus rickmersi on a Kazakhstan postage stamp, 1997
    Anomalobuthus rickmersi on a Kazakhstan postage stamp, 1997

References

  1. ^
    PMID 1726031
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  2. PMID 15120495
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  3. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1
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  4. PMID 12454020
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  5. PMID 10888198
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  6. S2CID 13235803
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  7. PMID 20097251
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  8. ^ Forney, Matthew (June 11, 2008). "Scorpions for Breakfast and Snails for Dinner". The New York Times.
  9. ^ a b Robinson, Norman (1899). "My pet scorpion". Popular Science Monthly. 54: 605–613.
  10. ^
    Asian Folklore Studies
    . 63 (1): 95–123.
  11. ^ a b Erbek, Güran (1998). Kilim Catalogue No. 1 (1st ed.). May Selçuk A. S.
  12. OCLC 18991506
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  13. ^ a b "Pharaonic Gods". Egyptian Museum. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008.
  14. ^ Pulpit Commentary on Luke 10, accessed 29 October 2018
  15. ^ Revelation 9:3
  16. ^ "Abarth Logo: Design and History". Famouslogos.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
  17. ^ a b Vitruvius, De Architectura, X:10:1-6.
  18. ^ a b "FV101 Scorpion: Keeping the Light Tank Relevant". HistoryNet. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Fastest tank". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 26 March 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  20. ISBN 978-1-4728-2003-7
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  21. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7
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  22. ISBN 1-55750-075-4
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  23. ^ The Times (London), Wednesday, 31 August 1910, p. 5
  24. ^ a b YJ Editors; Budig, Kathryn (1 October 2012). "Kathryn Budig Challenge Pose: Scorpion in Forearm Balance". Yoga Journal. {{cite journal}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  25. ^ Wallis, J. Doyle (2004). "Operation Scorpio". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  26. ^ "The Scorpion King". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  27. ^ Provo, Frank (2002). "The Scorpion King: Sword of Osiris Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  28. ^ Salvadori, Clement (17 January 2019). "Retrospective: 1974-1977 Montesa Cota 247-T". Rider Magazine. Retrieved 25 June 2020. Permanyer persisted, built larger engines, and in 1965 showed the 247cc engine (21 horsepower at 7,000 rpm) in a Scorpion motocrosser.
  29. ISBN 978-0-262-61121-3
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  30. ^ "Stevie Smith: Bibliography". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Scorpion ( Accession Number: 1981.459.5)". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  32. ^ "Bowl, Scorpions". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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