In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to find something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. Mesopotamian mythology has a rich diversity of monster myths and legends.

 Asag

Asag was a demon so monstrous that his very presence was enough to cause large bodies of water to boil to the point that the fish in the water would be cooked alive. Asag was often accompanied by his offspring, which were rock demons born of his unions with the mountains of the Earth. Asag was known for his warring nature and his cruelty that he inflicted on those he went to war against.

Kulullu

Kulullu loosely translates to Fish-Man. Kulullu had the form of a human male, except for the fact that his lower body was that of a fish. Kulullu’s presence was believed to provide prosperity and good luck to those to whom he revealed himself. Yet, Kulullu was not an entirely benevolent figure as he could just as quickly cause bad luck to fall upon those who disrespected him and the creatures of the water.   

Basmu

Basmu, also known as Bašmu or Bashmu, translates loosely into venomous snake. The Basmu had the appearance of a giant snake with horns atop its head, two giant legs, and a pair of wings. The Basmu was believed to be almost invincible in that a single drop of its venom would guarantee the death of the one it came into contact with.

Asakku

Asakku were evil spirits that often clashed with good spirits known as the Utukku. Unlike the Utukku who protected humans, the Asakku were spirits that set out to kill humans by making them develop a head fever that would usually claim the life of the human afflicted with it. The only time that the Asakku would not claim human lives is when one of the Utukku would interfere and best the Asakku in a battle for the human’s life.

Urmahlullu

The Urmahlullu was a creature similar to the centaur, except for the fact that it was not a combination of a human and a horse, but instead the combination of a lion and a human. The Urmahlullu were known for having their top half appear human and their lower half to be that of a lion. The Urmahlullu were predators and hunters, capable of taking down almost any prey with human intelligence and lion instinct.

Girtablilu

The Girtablilu were creatures that had the top half of a human and the bottom half of a scorpion, making them a sort of scorpion-centaur creature. The Girtablilu were known for their ability to strike quickly and with deadly precision. Their scorpion tail made them almost impossible to kill as one sting from their tail would leave their victim in paralyzed agony until the victim died.