Sariel

Sariel (Aramaic: זהריאל, Greek: ‘Ατριήλ, 'Command of God') is one of the archangels mainly from Judaic tradition. Other possible versions of his name are Suriel, Suriyel (in some Dead Sea Scrolls translations), Esdreel, Sahariel, Juriel, Seriel, Sauriel, Surya, Saraqael, Sarakiel, Jariel, Suruel, Surufel and Sourial.

Suriel is sometimes identified with Ariel, Metatron, and Uriel. In 1 Enoch, he is one of the four holy archangels who is "of eternity and trembling". In Kabbalistic lore, he is one of seven angels of the earth. Origen identified Suriel as one of seven angels who are primordial powers. In Gnosticism, Suriel is invoked for his protective powers. He is commemorated in the calendar of the Coptic Orthodox Church on 27 Tubah.^{[citation needed]}

Like Metatron, Suriel is a prince of presence and like Raphael, an angel of healing. He is also a benevolent angel of death (one of a few). Suriel was sent to retrieve the soul of Moses. It is said that Moses received all his knowledge from Suriel, (although Zazagel is credited also with giving Moses his knowledge).^{[citation needed]}

In traditional texts

History

According to the Book of Enoch, Sariel (same angel as archangel Saraqael(communicants of God) & Azrael (whom God helps)according to Al-Qur'an,angel of death,malaku I-mawati) was one of the leaders of angels who lusted after the daughters of men. They descended to the summit of Mount Hermon, in the days of Jared, to acquire wives and lead men astray.^[1] Sariel specifically taught men about the course of the moon.^[2] Knibbs translation of the names of the Book of Enoch says it is possibly “light of God” or “moon of God” however he is listed as Araziel. His name is also listed as Arazyal and Asaradel in some 1 Enoch translations.^[3] The name being a combination of sa'ar and 'God'. In the book of 2 Enoch he is usually listed as the fourth angel with the name of Samuil or Sariel.^[3]

The book of War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness lists the name of Sariel (שריאל, officer of God, an alternate spelling of Sariel) 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 third Tower (1QM 9,16).^[4]

The angel Suriyel is briefly mentioned in the Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan as bearing Adam and Eve from the top of a high mountain to the Cave of Treasures.^[5]

"… bring what he had brought, and give it to Adam. And they did so, one by one. 6 And God commanded Suriyel and Salathiel to bear up Adam and Eve, and bring them down from the top of the high mountain, and …" - Bible. O. T. Apocryphal books. English First Book of Adam and Eve.

In the Ladder of Jacob Sariel is dispatched by the Lord to Jacob to explain to him the meaning of the dream about the ladder.

In the Talmud he is said to have taught Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha hygiene.^{[citation needed]} The name Juriel is described as "An angel of the divine face or presence." which is why Sariel might be considered a possible name for Metatron.

Beta Israel writings call him "Suriel the Trumpeter" and "Suriel, the Angel of Death".^{[citation needed]}

The book of Liber Juratus by Honorius of Thebes, has a number of translation which lists Saryell as being "the names of the angells of the .8. monthe that is sayde marquesnan" and Saryel as "the names of the angells of the .10. monthe (Tammuz) that is sayde thebeth be these". In a different translation Sariell is "The names of the angels of the eighth month, which is called marquesnan heshvan" and Sariel as "The names of the angels of the tenth month, which is called Tevet". The month of Heshvan marquesnan would make Sariels ruler Barfiell, or the month of Tevet would make the ruler Anael.^[3]

In The Lesser Key of Solomon it lists the dukes Asteliel and Gediel as commanding Sariel by night. The book A dictionary of angels by Gustav Davidson and The complete book of devils and demons by Leonard Ashley list Sariel as a Fallen Angel.

The University of Michigan has a section devoted to Traditions of Magic in Late Antiquity, Protective Magic, Babylonian Demon Bowls. One clay bowl Seleucia-on-Tigris, 6th or 7th century lists Sariel twice:

"I wrote all of the curses upon a new bowl of clay and I sent back the curses of those who cursed Negray daughter of Denday to their masters until they release and bless in the name of Sariel the angel and Barakiel the angel and in the name of Sariel and Barakiel you release from the curses of those who curse Negray daughter of Denday as a man is freed from the house of bondage and from the house of weapons amen amen selah"

Speculation

As an angel of death

Judaic-Christian texts say Sariel is the angel of death attributed to the fifth angel Apollyon. Some Enoch translations for Sariel use Arazyal/Araziel/Asaradel which in its anglo translation sounds very similar to Azrael. If Azrael is the same as Sariel he is one of the four Islamic angels in conjunction with Mikhail, Djibril, and Israfil. The name Azrael is listed in Muslim and Islamic theology as the angel of death "forever writing in a large book and forever erasing what he writes: what he writes is the birth of man, what he erases is the name of the man at death". We also see parallels in Rabbinical lore for Sammael, Falasha for Suriel, and Azrael in the Arabic.^{[citation needed]}

As the archangel Saraqael

Sariel is identified as being the same angel as Saraqael, said in the Book of Enoch to be the fifth archangel, set over spirits who sin in the spirit,change into all virtues, ^[6] Before the identification of Sariel/Saraqael as the fifth archangel, however, the Book of Enoch identifies Sariel as one of the fallen host's "chiefs of tens."^[1]

In Popular Culture

Sariel appeared in the 2011 video game El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron as one of the Fallen Angels pursued by Enoch. He is depicted as being quite tall and lanky, and wears a pink bodysuit under his armor. When faced as a full-fledged boss, he transforms into a bat creature before being defeated by Enoch and imprisoned.

In Resurrection Man issue #1 (September 2011) Suriel is sent to 'collect' the soul of the protagonist. In doing so he crashes a plane bound for Portland killing all on board. Mitch wakes up in the wreckage after being killed when sucked through the planes engines to find that he now has the power to turn into water. Suriel is shown talking on a cell phone to someone 'upstairs' noting that Mitch, the Resurrection man, has already gotten up and left.

Sariel is one of the final bosses in the game Highly Responsive to Prayers, the first game in the Touhou Project series of games. He is, however, depicted as female.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Enoch 6
2. ^ Enoch 8
3. ^ ^{a b c} Angels and Demons
4. ^ War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness (War Rule), 1QM, Column 9, Lines 15-16
5. ^ Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan 31:6
6. ^ Enoch 20

External links

• University of Michigan Demon Bowls Exhibit 37. Kelsey Museum 19504
• Demon Bowl Image