Scorpius depicts Satan and fallen spiritual forces as the source of sin and death that struck mankind. This is one of the most ancient constellations: already in Mesopotamia it was called GÍR.TAB — Scorpion. Its raised tail ends in two stars of the ancient 'sting'; the name Shaula directly means 'sting of the Scorpion'. Thus the heavenly picture corresponds to the words of Scripture: 'the sting of death is sin'. Through the ancient serpent, sin entered Eden, and through sin, death. But nearby appears Sagittarius — Christ, who came to strike the power of Scorpius and free man from the enemy's power.
Full interpretation
Verifiable historical, etymological and topographical statements are accompanied by sources. The theological conclusions are the project’s interpretation according to its published methodology.
Scorpius is one of the most ancient and enduring images of the starry sky. In Mesopotamia, this figure already existed as MUL.GÍR.TAB — Scorpion, long before Greek mythology. Therefore we have before us not a late fantasy, but a very ancient image of a dangerous creature with claws and a raised sting.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
In the overall biblical picture, Scorpius represents Satan and fallen angelic powers, but reveals them from a particular side: as those through whom the venom of sin and death entered the human world.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
In Eden, Satan acts through the serpent. He makes man doubt God's word and accept the same principle that lay at the foundation of his own rebellion: 'you will be like God.' Man ceases to accept God as the measure of good and evil and tries to take His place himself.
Thus the blow that began in the spiritual world reaches man.
This is why the image of Scorpius is especially precise. Scorpius strikes not with the strength of its body, but with the venom of its sting. A small puncture carries inside what then spreads throughout the whole organism. So also sin works: one disobedience entered the human race and brought death to all men.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Paul almost literally uses this image:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
'The sting of death is sin.'
At the tip of Scorpius's tail are the stars Shaula and υ Scorpii. In the ancient Arabic tradition, this pair was called al-Šawla — 'sting', and this designation continues an even more ancient Mesopotamian image of the two stars of the Scorpion's sting. The very pattern of the constellation therefore emphasizes precisely that with which the enemy strikes his victim.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The name of another star, Lesath, was long explained as 'bite of a venomous animal', though modern research shows this is a late erroneous reinterpretation of an earlier Arabic name. Therefore we need not build interpretation on Lesath: Shaula by itself gives us the true and ancient 'sting'.
Also interesting is the group of stars in the front part of Scorpius. In older literature, β, δ, and π Scorpii were connected with the Mesopotamian name Gis-gan-gu-sur, which was rendered as 'Tree of the Garden of Light'. This interpretation is known primarily through R. H. Allen and requires caution, so it should not be the main proof. But as an additional trace, it strikingly fits the biblical story: the first blow of Satan against humanity indeed took place in a garden, beside the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The main star of Scorpius is the red Antares. Its name does not mean 'Against the Lamb': the Greek Antares is related to Ares — Mars — because the bright red star resembles that planet. Therefore the meaning 'enemy of the Lamb' should be seen not in the etymology of Antares, but in the position of Scorpius itself in the overall heavenly history.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Next to Scorpius is Sagittarius — in our map, Christ who came to earth, the Prince of the Earth. His weapon is aimed at Scorpius. Therefore after the history of the fall, God's answer immediately appears: the One who comes to destroy the works of the devil.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Scorpius strikes the first blow at man, but does not have the last word.
Moreover, Christ Himself uses both ancient images of the enemy at once:
'I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.'[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Serpents and scorpions here directly become images of the enemy's power.
Thus Scorpius shows the whole history of the fall in one image:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Satan rebels against God; his venom enters Eden; sin strikes man; through sin comes death; but God sends Christ to crush the enemy's power.
And therefore the central meaning of Scorpius is the sting of sin by which the enemy struck humanity, but which Christ came to destroy.