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?S?S?
 1) This is a ?S?S? Some people call this pattern a scorpion, some call it a pot hook, others call it a meander, some see it as a growing vine, while others speculate that it was used as an ancient symbol of reincarnation or life force. As a simple image of a scorpion, it is a symbol dating to the Middle Eastern late neolithic and early Bronze age and was associated with women. The scorpion was a symbol of the goddess Inanna. Henna patterns from Rajasthan from before 1950 often have little scorpions on the fingers. Old henna and love songs use the metaphor of the scorpion for love: love, like a scorpion sting, makes one breathless, causes a massive hot hard swelling, and the inflamed part feels better when dunked into something moist and soothing. The scorpion is also used in henna as a protective amulet, to "sting" the Evil Eye.   2) This is how you make the ?S?S? It can go either direction. It can either be an S on its side, or a ? on its side.  3) You can make a repeating series of SSSSSSS or you can alternate S?S?S?S?S? Many people have a difficult time keeping track of the spiral's direction. Just repeat to yourself ?S?S ... and there you are. Try drawing series of SSSSSS and ??????????? and S?S?S?S?S?S?S?S along lined paper. The more you practice, the better you'll get!  4) Make S?'s facing each other. Practice pairs of those and try to get them absolutely even.  5) Make SSSS's over an arch or around an irregular shape.  6) Add Scorpion Stings  Ready to do some ?S?S? patterns for fingers, anklets and bracelets? Click on the ?S?S? above! Go back to the Index of Henna Pattern Elements Can't find what you want here? Go to the Main Index |
