The Worst Kind of Scorpion: The Aqrabuamelu

 Happy Mondo Missy Monday!  

And welcome to our 2nd May Mythical Beast post of the year.  I'm sure most of you are intrigued by this post's title, and maybe even a bit terrified.  If you're like the average person, I'm willing to bet you're not a fan of scorpions, (neither am I, though there are creatures I abhor more); and if you're not fond of scorpions, I'm sure today's mythical beast will surely be one from your nightmares, as it consists of both human and scorpion characteristics.  

Why am I getting Centaur vibes, but way more hideous?

And what is the name of the May Mythical Beast that I've been hinting of?  Why it's none other than (a name you've never heard before)--The Aqrabuamelu. 

Today's Aqrabuamelu information is courtesy of warriors of myth.fandom.com:

Aqrabuamelu | Warriors Of Myth Wiki | Fandom

Origins

The Aqrabuamelu is a creature with origins in Mesopotamian mythology, legend and folklore. In particular, accounts of their existence first originate in the Babylonian Creation Myth known as the Enûma Eliš (Enuma Elish), as well as the Babylonian version of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

In these, they are said to have been created by the primordial ocean goddess Tiamat, to wage war against the younger gods and her traitorous mate Apsu.

Appearance

The Aqrabuamelu is commonly very much like a Centaur in nature, in the sense that its body type is a human(oid) from the waist up, and from the waist down its body is that of a beast.

An Aqrabuamelu's lower body is often that of a gigantic scorpion, rather than that of a horse.

Though, there are known cases in which the creature is merely a humanoid scorpion, or even just a humanoid (often monstrous), with scorpion characteristics (such as an exoskeleton carapace on the skin, pincers or a tail terminating in a stinger).

Either way, their skin color typically ranges among the tans to browns, similar to a person of Middle Eastern or African descent. Their hair may, likewise, be straight, wavy or woolly, but it tends to be darker colors--brown or black. Eye color ranges all across the color spectrum, and presence of pointed ears varies.

The first among them, those created by the goddess Tiamat, were said to be enormous, to the point that their heads 'touch the sky'.

Behavior

Aqrabuamelu are strong-willed and opinionated; they can be argumentative and combative to the point of warlike. They are highly dutiful to the purpose under which they were reared (such causes as devotion to their faith and family), making them fierce and unrelenting patriots.

To any culture, cause or creed outside of their own, the response of an Aqrabuamelu will range from disdainful apathy to suspicion to outright hostility.

This deep fealty to causes they serve can be traced back to the first, who were guardians of the gates of the sun god Shamash, at the mountains of Mashu. They held the gates open for him to leave each day, and for him to return each night. 

Abilities

• Arthropod Omnilingualism
  • Arachnid Communication

• Death Stare

• Scorpion Physiology
  • Natural Exoskeleton
  • Natural Pincers
  • Natural Stinger
  • Venom Generation

• Superhuman Size

Sadly, I couldn't find much more information on the Aqrabuamelu.  Let's just say, that hopefully these "guys" really are just a myth and aren't still buried under some rocks in a desert region somewhere, ready for their chance to rise again (and was stated on another site).

At any rate, that's it for this week.  I hope you guys enjoyed today's post.  I'll see you back here next Monday for our next Mythical Beast, the Unicorn.

Until then, 

This is your host J, 

signing off...