For a couple of years now, there's been a phenomenon on the internet wherein people are displaying increasing interest in what 'biblically accurate' angels look like. Attached in this link is a video by an independent creator who represented their own depictions of seraphim, cherubim, and ophanim. While some artistic liberties have definitely been taken, the base design for these three classes of angels are generally compatible with their respective historical portrayals (seraphim, cherubim, ophanim).
Immediately striking is the distinctly inhuman, grotesque body composition that both draws in and repels the eye. This video portrayal made me question how creatures with an appearance so grim they had to announce themselves with "Be Not Afraid" came to be regarded as holy warriors, protectors, and divine beings of light. Also provoked by this train of thought was the realization that many classes of angels display chimerical traits. For example: the Cherub is depicted as having "four faces, one of a man, an ox, a lion, and an eagle... four conjoined wings covered with eyes... a lion's body, and the feet of oxen. [x]"
The chimerical makeup is an attribute we have studied in class that closely belonged to the 'demons' of the ancient world. Pazuzu himself was comprised of snake, eagle, and scorpion parts [x]. By the standards of their portrayals in popular media, angels are considered holy, Pazuzu is considered demonic, and yet both were (are) invoked for protective/defensive measures. Where is the line in the sand which separates unsightly, graphic, demonic divine iconography from holy and pure divine iconography? At least to me, it feels arbitrarily drawn.
Attached below is a meme rather fitting for this post.
Love this!
ReplyDeleteI was in high school when I found out what a "true angel" looked like. This was really shocking as I was still Christian at the time, now I look back and ponder where the image of a beautiful non-binary entity with wings and halo came from. I know the story of the fallen angel Lucifer, but what interests me the most is the idea of "guardian angels". Before I learned what an angel actually was, I also thought angels were guardians to keep you safe. At least that was the idea in my Catholic household, but nowadays there is a very popular "trend" with angel numbers. Angel numbers being "a repetitive sequence of three or four numbers that appear in seemingly random places in your life to convey a spiritual or divine message". I find it fascinating how the image and correlation with angels has evolved and the role social media has played too.
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