The Scorpions of Isis: A Tale of Divine Magic and Redemption

In a time when the gods walked among mortals, there was none as powerful and enigmatic as Isis, the great Goddess of Magic and the Speaker of Spells. One fateful evening, as Ra descended in glory upon the western horizon, Isis stepped out of the house her brother Set had bestowed upon her, answering the call of Thoth—the twice-great, mighty guardian of truth.

Accompanying her on this mystical journey were seven formidable scorpions: Tefen, Befen, Mestet, Mestetef, Petet, Thetet, and Matet. Arranged with Tefen and Befen at her back, Mestet and Mestetef on either side, and Petet, Thetet, and Matet leading the way, these creatures cleared the path before her. In a commanding voice that resonated through the air, Isis warned her scorpions: "Beware of the Black One, call not the Red One, look neither at children nor at any small helpless creature." Her words carried an ancient power, setting the stage for the events that were to unfold.

Wandering through the storied lands of Egypt—from the sacred precinct of Per-sui, where the crocodile was revered as a deity, to the vibrant Town of the Two Sandals, home of the Twin Goddesses—Isis and her companions ventured into the marshy realms of the North Country. Here, amidst the papyrus fields and the humble dwellings of the marsh-people, fate awaited her in an unexpected form.

At the doorstep of a humble home lived a woman known as Glory—also called Strength by some—whose heart had grown cautious and proud. From afar, Glory saw the wearied goddess approaching and, overcome by fear of the seven scorpions, she barred her entry. In contrast, another kind-hearted marshwoman welcomed Isis into her abode, offering rest and solace after her long journey.

But the path of destiny is never free of trials. In a moment of dark betrayal, the scorpions—Mestet, Mestetef, Petet, Thetet, Matet, and Befen—joined forces with Tefen, multiplying the venom in his sting sevenfold. Driven by this compounded poison, Tefen found his way into the house of Glory, slipping through a narrow gap by the closed door. There, he stung the child of Glory with a venom so fierce that it set the house ablaze and claimed the child's life.

Grief-stricken, Glory’s lamentations echoed into the heavens. Her sorrow was so profound that even the skies wept, sending an unseasonal downpour upon her burning home. The anguish of her loss and regret for having denied the weary goddess only deepened her pain.

Yet, Isis was not merely a figure of wrath or retribution—she was the Mistress of Magic and a beacon of healing. Moved by the woman's sorrow, Isis knelt by the lifeless child and, with her arms extended, invoked the ancient Words of Power. Her voice rang out, commanding the toxic forces to depart:

“O poison of Tefen, come out of him and fall upon the ground! Poison of Befen, advance not, penetrate no farther, come out of him, and fall upon the ground! For I am Isis, the great Enchantress, the Speaker of spells. Fall down, O poison of Mestet! Hasten not, poison of Mestetef! Rise not, poison of Petet and Thetet! Approach not, poison of Matet!
For I am Isis, the great Enchantress, the Speaker of spells. The child shall live, the poison shall die! As Horus is strong and well for me, his mother, so shall this child be strong and well for his mother!”

As if touched by divine intervention, the child stirred back to life. The raging flames subsided, and the heavenly rain ceased its weeping. In gratitude and remorse, Glory gathered her treasured ornaments, bracelets, and gold- and silver-work, offering them to Isis as a token of repentance for her earlier refusal.

To this day, the legacy of Isis’s healing magic lives on. In ritual remembrance, people knead wheat-flour with salt into a dough, placing it upon the sting of a scorpion while reciting the very Words of Power that brought the child back from the brink of death. This ancient rite serves as a testament to the enduring power of magic, compassion, and the divine intervention of Isis—the great enchantress and the eternal Speaker of Spells.

Thus, the tale of Isis and her seven scorpions weaves a timeless narrative of warning, redemption, and the miraculous restoration of life—a story that continues to inspire those who believe in the transformative power of magic.