Suriel | |
|---|---|
| Venerated in | Judaism,Coptic Orthodox Church[1] |
Sariel (Hebrew andAramaic: שָׂרִיאֵלŚārīʾēl, "God is my Ruler";[2][3]Greek: ΣαριηλSariēl,Coptic:ⲥⲟⲩⲣⲓⲏⲗSouriēl;[4][5]Amharic: ሰራቁያልSäraquyael, ሰረቃኤልSäräqael) is anangel mainly fromJudaic tradition. Other possible versions of his name areSuriel,Suriyel (in someDead Sea Scrolls translations),Seriel,Sauriel,Saraqael,Sarakiel,Suruel,Surufel, andSouriel.
In1 Enoch (20:6), he is said to be "one of the [seven] holy angels [who watch], who is set over the spirits, whosin in the spirit".[6]Origen identified Suriel as one of seven angels who are considered primordial powers by theOphites.[7] InGnosticism, Sariel is invoked for his protective powers. He is commemorated by theCoptic Orthodox Church on 27 Tobi in theCoptic calendar.
He is not to be confused with the fallenwatcherSahariel (Hebrew &Aramaic: שַׂהֲרִיאֵלŚahărīʾēl; "God is mymoon")[8] who bears a similar name. In 1 Enoch (8:1), he is said to have taught humans thecourse of the moon.[9]
The fallen watcher Sahariel, according to theBook of Enoch, was one of the leaders of angels wholusted after the daughters of men. They descended to the summit ofMount Hermon, in the days ofJared, to acquire wives and lead men astray.[10] Sariel specifically taught men about the course of the moon.[11]Knibbs' translation of the names of the Book of Enoch says it was Sariel who taught humans the "course of the moon" (theLunar calendar).
In this same book, thearchangel Sariel is one of the holy angels, who is set over the spirits that sin in the spirit, and is one of the angels who look upon the bloodshed on Earth, along withGabriel,Michael,Raphael andUriel.
In the book of2 Enoch he is listed, with the name of Samuil or Sariel, as one of the angels that broughtEnoch toheaven.[12]
The book ofWar of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness, from theDead Sea Scrolls, lists the name ofSariel (שריאל, "God is my Ruler") along with Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel as names to write upon the shields of soldiers in a tower during maneuvers (1QM 9,15). It is used on the shields of the thirdTower (1QM 9,16).[13]
The angelSuriyel is briefly mentioned in theConflict of Adam and Eve with Satan as bearingAdam and Eve from the top of a high mountain to theCave of Treasures.[14]
In theLadder of Jacob,Sariel is dispatched by the Lord toJacob to explain to him the meaning of the dream about the ladder.
The book ofLiber Juratus byHonorius of Thebes has a number of translations which listsSariell as one of "The names of the angels of the eighth month, which is calledmarquesnan heshvan", andSariel as one of "The names of the angels of the tenth month, which is calledTevet". The month ofHeshvan marquesnan would make Sariel's ruler Barfiell, or the month ofTevet would make the rulerAnael.[citation needed]The Lesser Key of Solomon lists the dukes Asteliel and Gediel as commanding Sariel by night. The bookA Dictionary of Angels byGustav Davidson andThe Complete Book of Devils and Demons by Leonard Ashley list Sariel as afallen angel. TheGreek Magical Papyri represents him as adeity to be called upon in rites using the "Souriel" variation of his name.[15]
TheUniversity of Michigan has a section in its library collection devoted to Traditions of Magic inLate Antiquity,Protective Magic,BabylonianDemon Bowls. Oneclay bowl fromSeleucia-on-Tigris dated to the 6th or 7th century A.D. lists Sariel twice:
In thebullet hell seriesTouhou Project, the first game,Highly Responsive toPrayers, portrays Sariel as the final boss of theMakai (魔界) route. Sariel is also the true final boss ofBloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2.
