Aqrabuamelu
Artwork by Benedetta Fiore. ArtStation | Instagram
Origin: Mesopotamia
Other names: Scorpion Men, girtablilu
The Scorpion Men were some of the most fearsome creatures in Babylonian myth. They have the body of a scorpion with the head, torso, and arms of a man. A great, arching tail tipped with a deadly singer towered over their heads, and its venom could kill a man in seconds. If their target were out of singing reach, they also had a reputation for their masterful archery.
In Enūma Eliš—the Babylonian creation myth—Tiamat, the primordial goddess of the sea, created them avenge her mate, Apsu, after he was killed by the younger gods. Unfortunately, even after they won many battles, Marduk, patron god of Babylon, stepped in and sent the Scorpion Men to the underworld.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, they stand guard at the gates in the mountains of Mashu, which give entrance to Kurnugi, the land of darkness. They open the doors for the sun god, Shamash, for him to travel each day, and then close them once he returns at night. They questioned Gilgamesh when he approached and decided that as part god, he was allowed to pass. So kind of them.
Appearances in media:
Movies:
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Books:
Dungeon Crawler Carl #4: The Gate of the Feral Gods
Video games:
Television: