An angel, especially according to
Abrahamic religions, is a spiritual being
superior to humans in power and
intelligence . Though servants to the redeemed on earth(those that has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal lord and saviour) by believing in him and confessing this belief with their mouths. See the bible, "hebrew cht 1:14 Angels are typically described as benevolent, dreadful, and endowed with wisdom and knowledge of earthly events, but not infallible; for they strive with each other, and God has to make peace between them. Most of them serve either as
intermediaries between Heaven and Earth, or as guardian spirits . [2][4]
They are studied in the theological doctrine of angelology . The use of the term has extended to refer to artistic depictions of the spirits, and it is also used figuratively to refer to messengers and harbingers, and to people who possess high qualities of goodness, purity, selflessness, intelligence , or
beauty.
Angels are referred to in connection with their spiritual missions; as for instance, the "angel which has redeemed", "an interpreter", "the angel that destroyed", "the messenger of the covenant", "angel of his presence", and "a band of angels of evil ".
In fine art , angels are usually depicted as having the shape of human beings of extraordinary beauty; [1][3] they are often identified using the symbols of bird
wings , [5] halos , [6] and light .
Etymology
The word angel (pronounced /ˈeɪn.dʒəl/ ) in English is a blend of Old English engel (with a hard g ) and Old French angele . [7] Both derive from Late Latin angelus "messenger", which in turn was borrowed from Late Greek ἄγγελος
ángelos . According to R. S. P. Beekes ,
ángelos itself may be "an Oriental loan, like ἄγγαρος [ ángaros ,'Persian mounted courier']." [8] The word's earliest form is
Mycenaean a-ke-ro attested in Linear B syllabic script. [9][10]
The ángelos is the default Septuagint's translation of the Biblical Hebrew term
mal’ākh denoting simply "messenger" without specifying its nature. In the Latin Vulgate , the meaning becomes bifurcated: when mal’ākh or ángelos is supposed to denote a human messenger, words like nuntius or legatus are applied. If the word refers to some supernatural being, the word angelus appears. Such differentiation has been taken over by later vernacular translations of the Bible, early Christian and Jewish exegetes and eventually modern scholars. [11]
Zoroastrianism
Main article: Zoroastrian angelology
In Zoroastrianism there are different angel-like figures. For example, each person has one guardian angel , called
Fravashi. They patronize human beings and other creatures, and also manifest God's energy. The Amesha Spentas have often been regarded as angels, although there is no direct reference to them conveying messages, [12] but are rather emanations of Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord", God); they initially appeared in an abstract fashion and then later became personalized, associated with diverse aspects of the divine creation. [13]
Neoplatonism
In the commentaries of Proclus (4th century, under Christian rule) on the
Timaeus of Plato , Proclus uses the terminology of "angelic" ( aggelikos ) and "angel" ( aggelos ) in relation to metaphysical beings. According to
Aristotle , just as there is a First Mover , [14] so, too, must there be spiritual secondary movers. [15]
Abrahamic religions
Judaism
Main article: Angels in Judaism
Three angels hosted by
Abraham , Ludovico Carracci (1555–1619), Bologna, Pinacoteca Nazionale.
Tobias and the Angel by
Filippino Lippi , created between circa 1472 and circa 1482.
The Torah uses the (Hebrew) terms מלאך אלהים ( mal'āk̠ 'ĕlōhîm ; messenger of God), מלאך יהוה ( mal'āk̠ YHWH ; messenger of the Lord), בני אלהים ( bənē
'ĕlōhîm ; sons of God) and הקודשים ( haqqôd̠əšîm; the holy ones) to refer to beings traditionally interpreted as angels. Later texts use other terms, such as העליונים ( hā'elyônîm ; the upper ones).
The term מלאך ( mal'āk̠ ) is also used in other books of the Tanakh . Depending on the context, the Hebrew word may refer to a human messenger or to a supernatural messenger. A human messenger might be a prophet or priest, such as Malachi , "my messenger"; the Greek superscription in the Septuagint translation states the Book of Malachi was written "by the hand of his messenger" ἀγγέλου angélu . Examples of a supernatural messenger[16] are the " Malak YHWH," who is either a messenger from God, [17] an aspect of God (such as the Logos), [18] or God himself as the messenger (the " theophanic angel.") [16][19]
Scholar Michael D. Coogan notes that it is only in the late books that the terms "come to mean the benevolent semi divine beings familiar from later mythology and art." [20] Daniel is the first biblical figure to refer to individual angels by name, [21] mentioning Gabriel (God's primary messenger) in Daniel 9:21 and
Michael (the holy fighter) in Daniel 10:13. These angels are part of Daniel's apocalyptic visions and are an important part of all apocalyptic literature. [20][22]
In Daniel 7, Daniel receives a dream-vision from God. [...] As Daniel watches, the Ancient of Days takes his seat on the throne of heaven and sits in judgement in the midst of the heavenly court [...] an [angel] like a son of man approaches the Ancient One in the clouds of heaven and is given everlasting kingship. [23]
Coogan explains the development of this concept of angels: "In the postexilic period, with the development of explicit monotheism, these divine beings—the 'sons of God' who were members of the
Divine Council—were in effect demoted to what are now known as 'angels', understood as beings created by God, but immortal and thus superior to humans." [20] This conception of angels is best understood in contrast to
demons and is often thought to be "influenced by the ancient Persian religious tradition of Zoroastrianism, which viewed the world as a battleground between forces of good and forces of evil, between light and darkness." [20] One of these is hāšāṭān , a figure depicted in (among other places) the Book of Job.
Philo of Alexandria identifies the angel with the Logos inasmuch as the angel is the immaterial voice of God. The angel is something different from God himself, but is conceived as God's instrument. [24]
In post-Biblical Judaism, certain angels took on particular significance and developed unique personalities and roles. Although these archangels were believed to rank among the heavenly host , no systematic hierarchy ever developed. Metatron is considered one of the highest of the angels in Merkabah and Kabbalist mysticism and often serves as a scribe; he is briefly mentioned in the Talmud [25] and figures prominently in Merkabah mystical texts. Michael, who serves as a warrior[26] and advocate for Israel ( Daniel 10:13 ), is looked upon particularly fondly. [27] Gabriel is mentioned in the Book of Daniel ( Daniel 8:15–17 ) and briefly in the Talmud, [28] as well as in many Merkabah mystical texts. There is no evidence in Judaism for the worship of angels , but there is evidence for the
invocation and sometimes even
conjuration of angels. [21]
According to Kabbalah, there are four worlds and our world is the last world: the world of action (Assiyah). Angels exist in the worlds above as a 'task' of God. They are an extension of God to produce effects in this world. After an angel has completed its task, it ceases to exist. The angel is in effect the task. This is derived from the book of Genesis when Abraham meets with three angels and Lot meets with two. The task of one of the angels was to inform Abraham of his coming child. The other two were to save Lot and to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah . [21]
Jewish philosopher Maimonides explained his view of angels in his Guide for the Perplexed II:4 and II
Maimonides had a neo-Aristotelian interpretation of the Bible. Maimonides writes that to the wise man, one sees that what the Bible and Talmud refer to as "angels" are actually allusions to the various laws of nature; they are the principles by which the physical universe operates.
One of Melozzo 's musician (seraphim) angels from the Basilica dei Santi Apostoli, now in the sacristy of St. Peter's Basilica
Jewish angelic hierarchy
Main article: Jewish angelic hierarchy
The sons of God saw the Daughters of Men that they were fair by Maurice Greiffenhagen
Maimonides , in his Yad ha-Chazakah : Yesodei ha-Torah , counts ten ranks of angels in the Jewish angelic hierarchy, beginning from the highest:
Rank Angel Notes
1 Chayot Ha Kodesh See Book of Ezekiel chs. 1 and 10
2 Ophanim See Ezekiel chs. 1 and 10
3 Erelim See Isaiah 33:7
4 Hashmallim See Ezekiel 1:4
5 Seraphim See Isaiah 6
6 Malakim Messengers, angels
7 Elohim "Godly beings"
8 Bene Elohim "Sons of Godly beings"
9 Cherubim See Hagigah 13b
10 Ishim "manlike beings", see Genesis 18:2 ,
Daniel 10:5
Individual angels
From the Jewish Encyclopedia , entry "Angelology". [21]
Michael (archangel) (translation: who is like God? ), kindness of God, and stands up for the children of mankind
Gabriel (archangel) (translation: God is my strength), performs acts of justice and power
(Only these two angels are mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible; the rest are from extra-biblical tradition.)
Jophiel (translation: Beauty of God ), expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden holding a flaming sword and punishes those who transgress against God.
Raphael (archangel) (translation: It is God who heals), God's healing force
Uriel (archangel) (translation: God is my light), leads us to destiny
Samael (archangel) (translation:
Venom of God ), angel of death—see also
Malach HaMavet (translation: the angel of death )
Sandalphon (archangel) (translation:
bringing together ), battles Samael and brings mankind together
Christianity
Main article: Christian angelic hierarchy
The Archangel Michael wears a late Roman military cloak and cuirass in this 17th-century depiction by
Guido Reni
Later Christians inherited Jewish understandings of angels, which in turn may have been partly inherited from the Egyptians. [29] In the early stage, the Christian concept of an angel characterized the angel as a messenger of God. Later came identification of individual angelic messengers: Gabriel ,
Michael , Raphael , and Uriel . Then, in the space of little more than two centuries (from the 3rd to the 5th) the image of angels took on definite characteristics both in theology and in art. [30]
According to St. Augustine , " 'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel'." [31] Basilian Father Thomas Rosica says, "Angels are very important, because they provide people with an articulation of the conviction that God is intimately involved in human life." [32]
By the late 4th century, the Church Fathers agreed that there were different categories of angels, with appropriate missions and activities assigned to them. There was, however, some disagreement regarding the nature of angels. Some argued that angels had physical bodies, [33] while some maintained that they were entirely spiritual. Some theologians had proposed that angels were not divine but on the level of immaterial beings subordinate to the Trinity . The resolution of this Trinitarian dispute included the development of doctrine about angels. [34]
The angels are represented throughout the Christian Bible as spiritual beings intermediate between God and men: "You have made him [man] a little less than the angels ..." ( Psalms 8:4-5 ). The Bible describes the function of angels as "messengers" but does not indicate when the creation of angels occurred. [35] Christians believe that angels are created beings, based on ( Psalms 148:2-5 ; Colossians 1:16): "praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts ... for He spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created ...". The Forty Gospel Homilies by Pope Gregory I noted angels and archangels. [36] The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) declared that the angels were created beings. The Council's decree Firmiter credimus (issued against the Albigenses ) declared both that angels were created and that men were created after them. The First Vatican Council (1869) repeated this declaration in Dei Filius, the "Dogmatic constitution on the Catholic faith".
Thomas Aquinas (13th century) relates angels to Aristotle's metaphysics in his
Summa contra Gentiles , [37] Summa Theologica , [38] and in De substantiis separatis , [39] a treatise on angelology. Although angels have greater knowledge than men, they are not omniscient , as Matthew 24:36 points out. [40]
Interaction with angels
An angel comforting Jesus, by
Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1865–1890.
“ Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.—
Hebrews 13:2 ”
The New Testament includes many interactions and conversations between angels and humans. For instance, three separate cases of angelic interaction deal with the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ . In Luke 1:11, an angel appears to Zechariah to inform him that he will have a child despite his old age, thus proclaiming the birth of John the Baptist. In Luke 1:26 the Archangel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary in the
Annunciation to foretell the birth of
Jesus Christ. Angels then proclaim the birth of Jesus in the Adoration of the shepherds in Luke 2:10. [41]
According to Matthew 4:11, after Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, "...the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him." In Luke 22:43 an angel comforts Jesus Christ during the
Agony in the Garden . [42] In Matthew 28:5 an angel speaks at the empty tomb, following the Resurrection of Jesus and the rolling back of the stone by angels. [41]
In 1851 Pope Pius IX approved the
Chaplet of Saint Michael based on the 1751 reported private revelation from
archangel Michael to the Carmelite nun Antonia d'Astonac. [43] In a biography of Saint Gemma Galgani written by Venerable Germanus Ruoppolo, Galgani stated that she had spoken with her guardian angel.
Pope John Paul II emphasized the role of angels in Catholic teachings in his 1986 address titled " Angels Participate In History Of Salvation ", in which he suggested that modern mentality should come to see the importance of angels. [44]
According to the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, "The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture." [45]
The New Church
In the New Church , extensive information is provided concerning angels and the spiritual world in which they dwell from many years of spiritual experiences recounted in the writings of
Emanuel Swedenborg . All angels are in human form with a spiritual body, and are not just minds without form. [46] There are different orders of angels according to the three heavens, [47] and each angel dwells in one of innumerable societies of angels. Such a society of angels can appear as one angel as a whole. [48]
All angels originate from the human race, and there is not one angel in heaven who first did not live in a material body. [49] Moreover, all children who die not only enter heaven but eventually become angels. [50] The life of angels is that of usefulness, and their functions are so many that they cannot be enumerated. However each angel will enter a service according to the use that they had performed in their earthly life. [51] Names of angels, such as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, signify a particular angelic function rather than an individual being. [52]
While living in one's body an individual has conjunction with heaven through the angels, [53] and with each person, there are at least two evil spirits and two angels. [54] Temptation or pains of conscience originates from a conflict between evil spirits and angels. [55] Due to man's sinful nature it is dangerous to have open direct communication with angels [56] and can only be seen when one's spiritual sight has been opened. [57] Thus from moment to moment angels attempt to lead each person to what is good tacitly using the person's own thoughts. [58]
Latter Day Saints
Temple statue of the
Angel Moroni , Bern,
Switzerland
Adherents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) view angels as the messengers of God. They are sent to mankind to deliver messages, minister to humanity, teach doctrines of salvation, call mankind to repentance, give priesthood keys, save individuals in perilous times, and guide humankind. [59]
The Divine Comedy, Paradise (Paradiso), illustration by Gustave Doré
The Divine Comedy , Paradise, illustration by Gustave Doré
The Divine Comedy , Paradise, illustration by Gustave Doré
Latter Day Saints believe that angels either are the spirits of humans who are deceased or who have yet to be born , or are humans who have been resurrected or translated and have physical bodies of flesh and bones, [60] and accordingly
Joseph Smith taught that "there are no angels who minister to this earth but those that do belong or have belonged to it." [61] As such, Latter Day Saints also believe that Adam , the first man, was and is now the archangel Michael , [62]
[63][64] and that Gabriel lived on the earth as Noah . [60] Likewise the Angel Moroni first lived in a pre-Columbian American civilization as the 5th-century prophet-warrior named Moroni .
Joseph Smith, Jr. described his first angelic encounter thus: [65]
Most angelic visitations in the early
Latter Day Saint movement were witnessed by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery , who both claimed (prior to the establishment of the church in 1830) to have been visited by the prophet Moroni ,
John the Baptist, and the apostles Peter ,
James , and John. Later, after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple , Smith and Cowdery claimed to have been visited by Jesus , and subsequently by
Moses , Elias, and Elijah . [66]
People who claimed to have received a visit by an angel include the other two of the Three Witnesses : David Whitmer and
Martin Harris . Many other Latter Day Saints, both in the early and modern church, have claimed to have seen angels, though Smith posited that, except in extenuating circumstances such as the restoration, mortals teach mortals, spirits teach spirits, and resurrected beings teach other resurrected beings. [67]
Islam
Depiction of an angel in Shia miniature (Persia, 1555)
Main article: Islamic view of angels
Angels ( Arabic : ﻣﻼﺋﻜﺔ , Malāʾikah ) are mentioned many times in the Qur'an and
Hadith . Islam is clear on the nature of angels in that they are messengers of God. They are entrusted with various tasks by God and only follow His instructions. [68] An example of a task they carry out is that of testing individuals by granting them abundant wealth and curing their illness. [69] Believing in angels is one of the six
Articles of Faith in Islam .
Some examples of angels in Islam:
Jibrail : the archangel Gabriel (Jibra'il or Jibril) is an archangel who serves as a messenger from God.
Michael (archangel) : or Mikail , the angel of nature.
Israfil ( Arabic : ﺇﺳﺮﺍﻓﻴﻞ , translit. Isrāfīl ,
Alternate Spelling : Israfel or Seraphim, Meaning: The Burning One [70] ), is the angel of the trumpet in Islam , [71] though unnamed in the Qur'an . Along with
Mikhail, Jibrail and Izra'il , he is one of the four Islamic archangels. [70] Israfil will blow the trumpet from a holy rock in Jerusalem to announce the Day of Resurrection. [72] The trumpet is constantly poised at his lips, ready to be blown when God so orders.
Azrael is Azraa-eel ﻋﺰﺭﺍﺋﻴﻞ or Izrail : the Angel of Death. Takes the soul of the deceased away from the body. In Quran only referenced as angel of death or ﻣﻠﻚ ﺍﻟﻤﻮﺕ .
Darda'il : the angels who travel in the earth searching out assemblies where people remember God's name.
Kiraman Katibin: the two angels who record a person's good and bad deeds.
Mu'aqqibat : a class of guardian angels who keep people from death until their decreed time.
Munkar and Nakir : the angels who test the faith of the dead in their graves. They ask the soul of the dead person questions. If the person fails the questions, the angels make the man suffer until the Day of Judgement. If the soul passes the questions, he will have a pleasant time in the grave until the Day of Judgement.
Ridwan : the angel in charge of maintaining Jannah or Paradise.
Maalik: the angel who keeps or guards
hellfire .
Harut and Marut ( Arabic : ﻫﺎﺭﻭﺕ ﻭﻣﺎﺭﻭﺕ ) are two angels mentioned in the second Surah of the Qur'an , who were sent down to test the people at
Babel or Babylon by performing deeds of magic. ( Sura Al-Baqara , verse 102.) The Qur'an indicates that although they warned the Babylonians not to imitate them or do as they were doing, some members of their audience failed to obey and became sorcerers, thus damning their own souls.
Bahá'í Faith
In his Book of Certitude Bahá'u'lláh , founder of the Bahá'í Faith , describes angels as people who "have consumed, with the fire of the love of God, all human traits and limitations", and have "clothed themselves" with angelic attributes and have become "endowed with the attributes of the spiritual". 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes angels as the "confirmations of God and His celestial powers" and as "blessed beings who have severed all ties with this nether world" and "been released from the chains of self", and "revealers of God's abounding grace". The Bahá'í writings also refer to the
Concourse on High , an angelic host, and the Maid of Heaven of Bahá'u'lláh's vision. [73]
Sikhism
The poetry of the holy scripture of the
Sikhs – the Sri Guru Granth Sahib – figuratively mentions a messenger or angel of death, sometimes as Yam (ਜਮ – "Yam") and sometimes as Azrael (ਅਜਰਾਈਲੁ – "Ajraeel"):
ਜਮ ਜੰਦਾਰੁ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਇਉ ਭਉਜਲੁ ਤਰੈ ਤਰਾਸਿ
The Messenger of Death will not touch you; in this way, you shall cross over the terrifying world-ocean, carrying others across with you.
— Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Siree Raag, First Mehl, p. 22. [74]
ਅਜਰਾਈਲੁ ਯਾਰੁ ਬੰਦੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਆਧਾਰੁ
Azraa-eel, the Messenger of Death, is the friend of the human being who has Your support, Lord.
— Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Tilang, Fifth Mehl, Third House, p. 724. [75]
In a similar vein, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib talks of a figurative Chitar (ਚਿਤ੍ਰ) and Gupat (ਗੁਪਤੁ):
ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਸਭ ਲਿਖਤੇ ਲੇਖਾ ॥
ਭਗਤ ਜਨਾ ਕਉ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਨ ਪੇਖਾ
Chitar and Gupat, the recording angels of the conscious and the unconscious, write the accounts of all mortal beings, / but they cannot even see the Lord's humble devotees.
— Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Aasaa, Fifth Mehl, Panch-Pada, p. 393. [76]
However, Sikhism has never had a literal system of angels, preferring guidance without explicit appeal to supernatural orders or beings.
Esotericism
Hermetic Qabalah
See also: Hermetic Qabalah
According to the Kabbalah as described by the Golden Dawn there are ten
archangels , each commanding one of the choir of angels and corresponding to one of the Sephirot. It is similar to the Jewish angelic hierarchy.
Rank Choir of Angels Translation Archan
1 Hayot Ha Kodesh Holy Living Ones Metatro
2 Ophanim Wheels Raziel
3 Erelim Brave ones[77] Tzaphki
4 Hashmallim Glowing ones, Amber ones[78] Tzadkiel
5 Seraphim Burning Ones Khamae
6 Malakim Messengers, angels Raphael
7 Elohim Godly Beings Uriel
8 Bene Elohim Sons of Elohim Michael
9 Cherubim [79] Gabriel
10 Ishim Men (man-like beings, phonetically similar to "fires") Sandalp
Theosophy
See also: Theosophical Society
In the teachings of the Theosophical Society, Devas are regarded as living either in the atmospheres of the planets of the solar system ( Planetary Angels ) or inside the Sun ( Solar Angels ) and they help to guide the operation of the processes of nature such as the process of evolution and the growth of plants ; their appearance is reputedly like colored flames about the size of a human. It is believed by Theosophists that devas can be observed when the third eye is activated. Some (but not most) devas originally incarnated as human beings . [80]
It is believed by Theosophists that
nature spirits , elementals ( gnomes ,
undines , sylphs , and salamanders ), and
fairies can be also be observed when the
third eye is activated. [81] It is maintained by Theosophists that these less evolutionarily developed beings have never been previously incarnated as humans; they are regarded as being on a separate line of spiritual evolution called the "deva evolution"; eventually, as their souls advance as they
reincarnate , it is believed they will incarnate as devas. [82]
It is asserted by Theosophists that all of the above-mentioned beings possess
etheric bodies that are composed of
etheric matter , a type of matter finer and more pure that is composed of smaller particles than ordinary physical plane matter . [82]
Brahma Kumaris
The Brahma Kumaris uses the term "angel" to refer to a perfect, or complete state of the human being, which they believe can be attained through a connection with God. [83][84]
In art
A 12th-century Eastern Orthodox icon of the Archangels Michael and
Gabriel wearing the loros of the Imperial guards.
Main article: Angels in art
In an address during a General Audience of 6 August 1986, entitled "Angels participate in the history of salvation", Pope John Paul II explained that "[T]he angels have no 'body' (even if, in particular circumstances, they reveal themselves under visible forms because of their mission for the good of people)." [44] Angels are however often depicted in painting and sculpture as male humans. Christian art perhaps reflects the descriptions in Revelation 4:6–8 of the Four Living Creatures ( Greek : τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα) and the descriptions in the Hebrew Bible of
cherubim and seraphim (the chayot in
Ezekiel's Merkabah vision and the Seraphim of Isaiah ). However, while cherubim and seraphim have wings in the Bible, no angel is mentioned as having wings. [85]
The earliest known Christian image of an angel—in the Cubicolo dell'Annunziazione in the Catacomb of Priscilla (mid-3rd century)—is without wings. In that same period, representations of angels on
sarcophagi , lamps and reliquaries also show them without wings, [86] as for example the angel in the Sacrifice of Isaac scene in the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus (although the side view of the Sarcophagus shows winged angelic figures).
The earliest known representation of angels with wings is on the "Prince's Sarcophagus", attributed to the time of
Theodosius I (379–395), discovered at Sarigüzel, near Istanbul , in the 1930s. [87] From that period on, Christian art has represented angels mostly with wings, as in the cycle of mosaics in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (432–440). [88] Four- and six-winged angels, drawn from the higher grades of angels (especially cherubim and seraphim ) and often showing only their faces and wings, are derived from Persian art and are usually shown only in
heavenly contexts, as opposed to performing tasks on earth. They often appear in the pendentives of church
domes or semi-domes . Prior to the Judeo-Christian tradition, in the Greek world the goddess Nike and the gods
Eros and Thanatos were also depicted in human-like form with wings.
Saint John Chrysostom explained the significance of angels' wings:
Angels are typically depicted in Mormon art as having no wings based on a quote from Joseph Smith ("An angel of God never has wings"). [90]
In terms of their clothing, angels, especially the Archangel Michael, were depicted as military-style agents of God and came to be shown wearing Late Antique military uniform. This uniform could be the normal military dress, with a tunic to about the knees, an armour breastplate and pteruges, but was often the specific dress of the bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor , with a long tunic and the loros, the long gold and jewelled
pallium restricted to the Imperial family and their closest guards.
The basic military dress was shown in Western art into the Baroque period and beyond (see Reni picture above), and up to the present day in Eastern Orthodox
icons . Other angels came to be conventionally depicted in long robes, and in the later Middle Ages they often wear the vestments of a deacon , a cope over a dalmatic. This costume was used especially for Gabriel in Annunciation scenes—for example the Annunciation in Washington by Jan van Eyck .
The extraordinary-looking
Cherubim (immediately to the left of Ezekiel) and Ophanim (the nested-wheels) appear in the
chariot vision of Ezekiel.
Some types of angels are described as possessing more unusual or frightening attributes, such as the fiery bodies of the
Seraphim , and the wheel-like structures of the Ophanim.
See also
Apsara
Dakini
Elioud
Eudaemon
Fallen angel
Gandharva
Hierarchy of angels
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
In paradisum
Nephilim
Shoulder angel
Watcher or Grigori
Yaksha
