In the Epic of Gilgamesh, what beings guard the entrance to Mount Mashu?

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, scorpion-men guard the entrance to Mount Mashu.

Gilgamesh encounters these extraordinary guardians during his journey toward Utnapishtim, the survivor of the great flood. Their bodies combine human and scorpion features, and their terrifying presence marks the boundary between the ordinary human world and a remote, supernatural route.

The scorpion-men recognize that Gilgamesh is partly divine and allow him to pass through the mountain tunnel. The passage lasts twelve double-hours in the standard account, after which Gilgamesh emerges into a strange region and continues toward the Waters of Death.

Mount Mashu should not be confused with Mount Nisir, where Utnapishtim’s boat comes to rest. Mashu belongs to Gilgamesh’s later quest journey, while Nisir belongs to the flood narrative. The scorpion-men are guardians of Mashu’s entrance, not the boat or the flood.