Zgodba se odvija daleč v preteklosti, pred 5.000 leti.Okrutni Memnon zavlada puščavskim plemenom. Z vojsko neusmiljenih barbarov zavzame gore in ravnine, pobije nasprotnike in zasužnji skoraj vsa ljudstva. Le nekaj uporniških plemen ima toliko poguma, da se mu uprejo. Najamejo izurjenega vojščaka in morilca Mathayusa, da bi ubil Memnona oziroma lepo čarovnico Cassandro, zaradi katere je nepremagljiv.
In an ancient time, predating the pyramids, the evil king Memnon is using the psychic powers of his sorceress Cassandra to fortell his great victories. In a last ditch effort to stop Memnon from taking over the world, the leaders of the remaining free tribes hire the assassin Mathayus to kill the sorceress. But Mathayus ends up getting much more than he bargained for. Now with the help of the trickster Arpid, tribal leader Balthazar and an unexpected ally, it's up to Mathayus to fufill his destiny and become the great Scorpion King.