Human uses of scorpions

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

Short-chain scorpion toxins constitute the largest group of potassium (K⁺) channel-blocking peptides. An important physiological role of the KCNA3 channel, also known as K_V1.3, is to help maintain large electrical gradients for the sustained transport of ions such as Ca²⁺ that controls T lymphocyte (T cell) proliferation. Thus K_V1.3 blockers could be potential 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 antimicrobial peptides in the venom of Mesobuthus eupeus; meucin-13 and meucin-18 have extensive 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]

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

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 Scorpio, in the 12 signs of the Zodiac by Babylonian astronomers during the 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]

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

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 FV101 Scorpion was an armoured reconnaissance vehicle or light tank in service from 1972 to 1994.[18] It holds the Guinness world record for the fastest production tank.[19] A version of the Matilda II tank, fitted with a flail to clear 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 asana in modern yoga as exercise with the back arched and one or both legs pointing forwards over the head is called 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 surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel made symbolic use of scorpions in his 1930 classic L'Age d'or (The Golden Age),[29] while Stevie Smith's last collection of poems was entitled Scorpion and other Poems.[30]

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  The Roman army used scorpio siege engines.[17]
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  "Scorpion and snake fighting", Anglo-Saxon Herbal, c. 1050
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  Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga, Raphael, c. 1504
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  "Libra and Scorpio". Star map by John Flamsteed, 1776
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  "The Italian Boot": King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy shaking Giuseppe Mazzini from the boot of Italy
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  Still life with scorpion and frog by Hermenegildo Bustos, 1874
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  HMS Scorpion, 1953
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  Scorpion tank[18]
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  Scorpion pose[24]
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  1975 Montesa King Scorpion motorcycle

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]

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