The Scorpion Men of Babylon: Scorpio’s Lost Origins
Scorpio is by far the most mysterious sign of the zodiac. With its ties to death, sex, and the occult, its appearance on charts instantly sparks fear and intrigue.
There are a lot of myths associated with Scorpio, but few have any historical significance. In modern times its not uncommon to hear some of Scorpio’s associations explained with a folktale: according to legend, the scorpion who finds itself surrounded on all sides with danger will sting itself and perish on its own terms rather than face death from another. It’s easy to see why this legend is so popular — it’s a vivid mental image and evokes a visceral tenacity and courage. But it simply isn’t true. The scorpion cannot penetrate its own defenses — this, however, might be the most apt metaphor of all.
Scorpio does have ancient ties to the mysteries of death. In Babylon, the sign was called GIR TAB or “That Which Claws And Cuts.” Scorpio directly followed Virgo in the Babylonian zodiac and Libra, which we now consider a standalone constellation, was part of the scorpion’s claws. This makes sense — if Virgo was Inanna, the Daughter of Sin, then Scorpio was inextricably tied to her brother, Shamash.
Shamash was the Mesopotamian god of the sun, a deity who governed not only vitality and strength but also justice, reason, and wisdom. In many stories…
