ANGELS

The believe of Angels belongs to theology and cannot really associated to symbolisms.

Their image comes from the believes of the Assyro-babylonians. It has been recovered by the Hebrews when they need to impose their monotheistic religion. Indeed, for explaining a monotheism absolute, Hebrews need that all these supernatural creatures (the "malechim") be the servants of an unic and powerfull God.

They were called Angeloi in Greek and Angeli in Latin and were considered as the personification of the Heavenly Father.

Later, they have been assimilated to the celestial army and have been classed in different groups by Denys the Areopagite (500 after Christ). This classification reinforced the theory, during the Middle Age, of a world being a spherical cup.

– Cherubs, who were responsible of the first move (primum mobile), also for the sphere of the immobile stars

– Throni, responsible for the sphere of Saturn

– Principati, responsible for Mars

– Dominationes, responsible for Jupiter

– Virtutes, responsible for Venus

– Archangeli, responsible for Mercury

– Angeli, responsible for the Moon,

– Potestates,

– Seraphs,

The representation of angels has been influenced by Asia. Indeed, from a very long time, supernatural creatures and genius were used to be described under the form of human beings with wings in asian myths and legends.

The Council of Lateran (1215) spoke very seriously about the angels. It asserted that the angels, created in a state of innocence, became demons because they wanted so. It seems thus that the angels were endowed with free will as well as the men.

The book of prophet Enoch reveals a version very embarassing for the Church: in fact, the angels were turned out of the sky... because they fell... in love! They elected women of our human world and made sons with them: the famous giants mentioned in all cultural myths and legends.

The Bible refers to this union "against nature" in the Genesis, Chapter VI-1.