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Theories || Analysis and Symbolism of the Angels’name :||

使徒 -- Shito -- Apostles -- Angels

Shinji Ikari: “Angels, messengers of God. Our enemies of Angel names. Why are we fighting against them?”

Of unknown origins, Angels are organic beings whose structure is composed of a double physical nature: both particles and waves (similar to the light). Neverthless, their DNA and genetic structure are very similar to the humans’ ones. These Angels may have the most varied forms and bodies, from those vaguely anthropomorphic to those who resemble a geometric solid; and they can also vary in sizes: we see being tall as giants and even Angels so small as to be almost invisible.

Every Angel has an A.T.Field and a red sphere, called Core or Heart. If this is destroyed, the Angels cease all activity and simply die. Although it is hidden by their constricting armor, even the Evangelion Units has a Core -- while it’s true that every single person has a own A.T.Field.

In the anime series, every Angel has its own name -- all names, except “Adam”, are used to identify a specific Angel and a particular meaning.

Adam -- The First Angel

Adam is the first angel in the series. According to the ‘Red Cross Book’: "The Old Testament and book of Genesis tell us that Adam was the first human being created by God in His image and likeness". Adam is - therefore - the one who gave life to everything. In the Old Testament it is also specified that Eve was created from one of Adam’s rib, and similarly, in the series, the Evangelion were created thanks to the discovery of Adam. However, the Adam of this series seems to be also connected to Adam Kadmon, the primordial “enlightened” man; that’s maybe why we see the giant as a being made of pure infinite light in Antarctica, during Second Impact. His name can also mean "red earth", a reference to the "purification ceremony of the red earth" cited by Seele in their chanting, in “The End of Evangelion”.

Finally, also consider that in the Kabbalah, Adam is described as a being capable of giving life, and at the same time, an entity to which all living things return at the time of their death; in episode 24, Kaworu says: “Adam, the being that created us. Those who come from Adam must return to Adam.”

Lilith -- The Second Angel

Throughout the course of the original series, the second Angel is never actually taken into account. Initially the audience is led to think (as Misato did) that the second Angel was that one that came into contact with Adam, causing the Second Impact. However we discover things are way more complicated than that, and that this hypothetical second Angel never existed... nor caused any harm. The only one able to fill the role of second Angel is the white giant kept in the deepest level of Nerv HQ: Lilith. Its face is covered with a purple mask with the symbol of Seele on it, and its hands are nailed to a giant cross. The seven eyes on the mask are linked to YHWH, the God of the Old Testament, that -it is said- has seven eyes.

In some rabbinical writings, it is said that Lilith was the first wife of Adam and that demons and spirits were born from their forbidden union. Other writings say Lilith left Adam after she refused to become subservient to him and then would not return to the Garden of Eden after she had coupled with a fallen angel.

Furthermore, the demon Lilith is often associated with "the Dark Side of the Moon”, or a sort of shadow parallel world in which unconscious and libidinal desires are uncontrolled. This psychoanalytic view of Lilith appears in The End of Evangelion or after Ep.15: in fact, only after Misato and Kaji discover the white giant, their relationship falls deep into “uncontrolled libido” once again.

Sachiel -- The Third Angel

Sachiel is the first angel we see attacking the city of Tokyo-3. In the tradition, Sachiel is believed to be a Cherubic archangel, angels who (according to the Old Testament) have to guard the Tree of Life in the Eden with spears of fire. In the series, he attacked with a "spear of light", kept inside his hand - similar to the "flames of fire" of the cherubim mentioned in the Genesis. It is believed Sachiel was the Angel who expelled both Adam and Eve from the Eden with its sword. Always following the tradition, Sachiel is the “Angel of Water”. We see him swimming in the first shot of Ep.1 and the Angel even shows a pair of gills during the UN attack.

Some researchers have also linked Sachiel’s defeat to Shinji’s pursuit and completion of a Sephiroth or Tree of Life, in particular of a first entity called “Hod”. Hod is a cherubim (just like Sachiel) and the angel of money and good fortune; Shinji’s first step inside Unit-01 is made with his left foot - just like Hod represents the left pillar of the whole Sephiroth and the happiness of being praised - something Shinji knows way too well.

In classical paintings, the angel Sachiel is always depicted as a beautiful girl with wings, often seen with her eyes closed or blindfolded while throws down the contents of a golden cornucopia full of fruits, flowers and coins.

Shamshel -- The Fourth Angel

Shamshel is considered to be a Cherumbim too, guardian of the Garden of Eden just like Sachiel. Together they are the angels who should guard the entrance door and the Tree of Life. Its shape is vaguely similar to that of an insect. The Angel presents “swords/whips of fire/light”, that had to stop the men from reaching the Tree of Life.

Traditionally, Shamshel is believed to be the Angel of midday or noon, literally “Angel of Sun”. In the series, he appears after Shinji was beaten up by Toji, during lunch break at school - supposedly at noon. It’s also considered the “Watcher” of Eden who should always look for any intruders, demons or evil entities; that’s maybe why in the series the Angel is seen with a pair of fake open eyes on its head.

In other stories and traditions, Shamshel is associated with a fallen angel who fell in love with a mortal woman and who taught men the secrets of both Sun and Fire.

Ramiel -- The Fifth Angel

It has a form of a perfectly smooth octahedron, as if its body is composed of two pyramids joined at their base. It seems to have no characteristics of a living being, but it is clear from its precise attacks against the Eva-01 that Ramiel has sensory organs. Using as a weapon a bundle of mega-particles shot at anyone who approaches the Angel too much, Ramiel pierced Eva-01 chest, almost killing Shinji.

This Angel brings the name of the “Angel of Thunder” and “Mercy”; its name can be translated as "the thunder of God", perhaps in reference to the particle beam used as a weapon. Ramiel is also named inside the “Book of Enoch”, being the Angel who reaps and guards souls, to preserve them till Judgement Day.

Ramiel is often depicted as a young boy with a halo of stars on his head, or just as beautiful Archangel, who shoots arrows of light and thunders.

Gaghiel -- The Sixth Angel

Gaghiel is the first Angel defeated by two Children piloting the same Unit, Asuka and Shinji; it attacked the UN fleet because of the Adam embryo Kaji had with him. Also, this is the only battle had under the sea. The angel is often identified as the “Angel of Fish”, but its name means “Roaring Beast of God”. Its shape is quite similar to the ones of sharks or rays.

Israfel -- The Seventh Angel

Israfel is maybe one of the most popular angel of the series: during the battle, it can split itself into two identical twins - what happens when Asuka tries to defeat it alone at their first encounter. It is only beaten after Shinji and Asuka create a perfectly synchronized attack after days of training and listening to the same music.

In fact, Israfel is considered to be the “Angel of Music and Resurrection”. Some believe this Angel will play the trumpet to initiate Judgement Day, other believe Israfel protects musicians and artists.

Israfel is depicted as a giant angel with trumpets and musical instruments, with four wings that protect its eyes from the sacred vision of Paradise, and who constantly sings praises to God in many languages.

It is remarkable to say that this Angel presents the Yin and Yang symbols on its face, a symbol of the harmony and work of two opposites: in this case, Asuka and Shinji.

Sandalphon -- The Eighth Angel

It was discovered within the magma of Mt. Asama. Its embryo shape is very similar to the one of a human being, as we see Sandalphon has a head, a pair of legs, a pair of hands and five fingers on each hand. Later, the Angel matured to its adult form - attacking Asuka, reminiscent of a prehistorical sea creature.

It’s referred as the “Angel of Embryos” and protector of all the children who still have to be born, as well as another Angel of Music in some religious traditions. It is said Sandalphon was once a human being, that ascended bodily into the Heaven to be crowned an Angel with his brother. Sandalphon is also responsible for the sexual differentiation of a baby during a mother’s pregnancy.

Matarael -- The NIneth Angel

The Angel, similar in shape to an animal resembling a gigantic spider, an eye crying acid and corrosive liquid on his belly/body, was first located by the UN forces in the sea, to then arrive in Neo-Tokyo-3 and attacking, with its raining secretions, the base through the hole created by his “brother” Ramiel. It will be defeated by Unit 00, 01 and 02 strategy and gun power.

Matarael appears in the religious script, the Book of Enoch, as the “Angel of Rain”. That is most likely the inspiration for his main attack, for the mortal and corrosive acid he uses to penetrate the base resembles in fact rain.

Sahaquiel – The Tenth Angel

Coming from the space and flying over Indian Ocean, Sahaquiel attacks suddenly the HQ. He’s the biggest Angel to directly attack Tokyo 3. He’s much bigger and larger than an Evangelion, and presents what can be seen as a human eye on his center and body. His tactic was to drop on the base and destroy it, acting like a sort of bomb and having all its extroflexions (of different colors, like green, blue and yellow, aside from the color orange) create a destructive and powerful A.T. Field. The three Units will later destroy the enemy, but will suffer great damages nonetheless.

He resembles, with his symmetrical characteristics and protrusions, an amoeba, or even a surrealist painting; but in reality, the name is recurrent in ancient scripts. He too is described in the Book of Enoch, being the “Angel of the Skies”, ruling over the 4th Heaven.

Also, in the Hebrew language, his name means “God’s Genius” and it might be, in this case, an allusion to his destructive usage of A.T. Fields, that NERV still had to fully comprehend by then.

Iruel – The Eleventh Angel

He’s the smallest Angel, as big as bacteria at first. It manifests itself, by reproduction (it is not a single Angel, but a real colony), with red marks on NERV’s types of machinery, and lives as an anaerobic bacterium, so only proliferating with oxygen around himself. It quickly evolves into something more complicated than those life-forms and starts attacking the MAGI System in an attempt to blow the HQ up.

Iruel, or better, Ireul or Yroul, is called the “Angel of Fear” in the Book of Enoch. It might refer to the fact fighting Iruel was all invisible, and that his attack instilled fear in every single member of Nerv HQ, with Ritsuko Akagi herself.

Leliel – The Twelfth Angel

It is divided into two entities: a big, black and white striped sphere, and its shadow. The sphere’s diameter is 680 meters, but it’s 3 nanometers thick as a surface. His shadow, and the main enemy and threat, is his own A.T. Field, in a sort, and represents the Sea of Dirac - a parallel dimension created by imaginary numbers, in math and science. It is where Shinji and his Evangelion get trapped.

In Christianity, Leliel is the “Angel of the Night”. Some even refer to him as the “Prince of Conception”, and in the series, his body also recalls a mother’s womb at the moment of birth, once the Unit 01 emerges victorious from the sphere.

In Hebrew, the name means “God’s Jaw”. His shadow eats Shinji, for example, and in that new dimension, he’s even able to talk to himself, although it is speculated that this second Shinji is, in fact, Leliel itself, toying with the boy’s soul and psyche.

Bardiel – The Thirteenth Angel

This Angel is a parasite as well, for it takes control of Unit 03, corrupting its core. Soon, his pilot too gets infected by the Angel, Toji Suzuhara. Even in this case, it’s a colony of Angels of infinite small dimensions to attack, and thus it was difficult for Nerv personnel to identify the enemy at the very first. Bardiel does not need a power supply to make the Unit 03 move at his own will. Because of his mutations, he can also bend and stretch the Evangelion arms thrice their normal length. Only Unit 01 Dummy System will be able to defeat the corrupted Evangelion.

Bardiel is said to be the “Angel of Hailstorms”. For Christians, he became the “Angel of Thunders”. It refers to the fact the Unit gets infected by passing through storm clouds during its transportation via jet.

Zeruel – The Fourteenth Angel

He follows Bardiel, and looks like a slightly anthropomorphic figure. On his back, he also presents the scars of two missing wings, a symbol of divine beings. He’s the first Angel to enter the true Central Dogma, by fleeing from radar signals. After a long battle, Shinji will manage to drive him away to the Dogma and Lilith, but paying the price of his sanity, by devouring the Forbidden Fruit, the true Angel’s core, and having his S² factor be part of Unit 01 forever.

He’s the “Angel of Strength”. It is said he helped the young David killing the giant Golia. Literally, his name means “God’s Arm”. The two words “God” and “Paper”, in Japanese, are pronounced the same way. And that might be why the Angel’s arms resemble paper indeed.

Arael – The Fifteenth Angel

Arael never gets close to Nerv, but attacks from his orbit, in the sky. He radiates light, so his true form is never shown clearly. The Angel erodes Asuka, inside Unit 02, and her mind and memories, through radar signals from above. Scanning her soul, the Angel drives the girl crazy and makes her re-live the most horrible moments of her childhood, as her mother is seen hanging dead before her again. Only Rei will be able to fight it and kill the Angel, by throwing at him the legendary Spear of Longinus.

He’s the “Angel of Birds”, but his name refers to “God’s Light”. Although, in a passage from the Book of Enoch, Arael is also described as the “Angel of Visions”, capable of driving a soul away from the body.

Armisael – The Sixteenth Angel

He appears over Owaku, with no real shape and form too, radiating divine light as well. He’s similar to a string of DNA, sometimes closed in a circle over the sky. When he’s a string, though, he’s able to move and react much faster. First, he attacks Rei and, like Arael, scans her soul and memories. Since Rei is, in fact, Lilith, it can be said Armisael was the first Angel to enter direct contact with her. To prevent their fusion to be completed, and the Impact to happen, Rei chooses suicide and the Angel’s destruction over normal victory. That was supposedly the only way the Angel could have been defeated in the first place, for Armisael seemed invincible.

Before the Forbidden Union (Angels are supposed to search for Adam, not Lilith) and before even Rei and her Unit explodes, Armisael transforms into a halo over the Unit’s head. It is a symbol for Christian Saints and Martyrs.

He is described as the “Angel of Birth”, for it was supposed to help women deliver babies. Women usually called for him in the hope to feel less pain during birth.

Tabris – Alpha and Omega

He is the last Angel. He arrives on Earth assuming a normal boy’s look and appearance, and by the name of Kaworu Nagisa. He controls Unit 02 without piloting it to enter the Central Dogma and meet his own creator, part of himself too, Adam. But instead, what he finds is Lilith. Disappointed, he lets Shinji decide of his future: death.

In the book Nuctemeron by Apollonio of Tiara, Tabris is described as a demon, not an angel. He’s one of the Genii of the Sixth Hour, and he rules over “Free Will”.

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