![]() In Enoch 1 he is one of the Watchers who descended to Earth to copulate with human women, although he is not their leader, this being Semyaza. He is apparently first mentioned in the Book of Enoch along with other rebellious angels. Samael was first mentioned during the Second Temple Period and immediately after its destruction. Samael sits enrobed with scythe in hand on top the world, Gustave Doré illustration Judaism Second Temple period and posteriority Although probably both accounts originate from the same source, the Gnostic development differs from the Jewish development of Samael, in which Samael is merely an angel and servant of God. In some Gnostic cosmologies, Samael's role as source of evil became identified with the Demiurge, the creator of the material world. By the beginning of Jewish culture in Europe, Samael had been established as a representative of Christianity, due to his identification with Rome. Īs guardian angel and prince of Rome, he is the archenemy of Israel. Only in later Midrashim he is entitled "head of satans". In early Talmudic and Midrashic literature he is not identified with Satan yet. In a single account he is also believed to be the father of Cain, as well as the partner of Lilith. However, the serpent is not a form of Samael, but a beast he rode like a camel. He appears frequently in the story of the Garden of Eden and engineered the fall of Adam and Eve with a snake in writings during the Second Temple period. Although he condones the sins of man, he remains one of God's servants. One of Samael's greatest roles in Jewish lore is that of the main angel of death and the head of satans. He is considered in Midrashic texts to be a member of the heavenly host with often grim and destructive duties. Samael ( Hebrew: סַמָּאֵל, Sammāʾēl, "Venom/Poison of God" Arabic: سمسمائيل, Samsama'il or سمائل, Samail alternatively Smal, Smil, Samil, or Samiel) is an archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore a figure who is the accuser or adversary ( Satan as mentioned in the Book of Job), seducer, and destroyer ( Mashhit as mentioned in the Book of Exodus).Īlthough many of his functions resemble the Christian notion of Satan, to the point of being sometimes identified as a fallen angel, : 257–60 he is not necessarily evil, since his functions are also regarded as resulting in good, such as destroying sinners. A relief of the Archangel Samiel in red robe, shown on the left side of the altar at Saint Bartholomew's Church, in Sydenham, London.
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