Editing Serket (section)

== Old Kingdom ==
=== Name and Roles ===
She is associated with healing, magic, and protection. Another interpretation of her name is, 'she who gives breath.' As many of the venomous creatures of Egypt could prove fatal, Serket was considered a protector of the dead, particularly being associated with venoms and fluids that cause stiffening.

It has been suggested that Serket's identification with a scorpion may be a misinterpretation of the phrase, 'she who gives breath'; it is possible that it could refer not to a scorpion, but rather a [[water scorpion]] ([[Nepidae]]). According to this hypothesis, the meaning behind Serket's name refers to the way water scorpions can breathe underwater. She was seen as one who could cure scorpion stings and the effects of other venoms such as [[Snakebite|snakebites]]. As such, Serket was often said to protect the deities from [[Apep]], the great [[snake]]-demon of evil.

During the [[Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom]] she held a protective role around the throne of the king. However, her primary role was with the funerary cult. She was said to be the protector of the tents of [[Embalming|embalmers]] and is one of the [[Tutelary deity|tutelary]] goddesses depicted on the [[canopic chest]] which contains four [[Canopic jar|canopic jars]]. [[Four sons of Horus|Qebehsenuef]], is said to guard the canopic jars and it is Serket's job to protect him along with [[Neith]], [[Isis]], and [[Nephthys]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=elgamelyan |url=https://archive.org/details/RoutledgeDictionaryOfEgyptianGodsAndGoddesses/page/n154/mode/1up |title=Routledge Dictionary Of Egyptian Gods And Goddesses |language=English}}</ref> This role also coined her the title of 'Mistress of the beautiful house,' referring to the embalming pavilion. <ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=Richard H. |date=2003 |url=https://archive.org/details/TheCompleteGodsAndGoddessesOfAncientEgypt/The%20Complete%20Gods%20and%20Goddesses%20of%20Ancient%20Egypt/page/n233/mode/2up |title=The Complete Gods And Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt |language=English |publisher=Thames & Hudson |isbn=0-500-05120-8}}</ref>

Eventually, Serket began to be identified with [[Isis]], sharing imagery and parentage, until finally, Serket was said to be merely an aspect of Isis, whose cult had become dominant.{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}