Ramblings of a Crowe

Angel Sanctuary and Mythology

I finally got my hands on Angel Sanctuary 4...and ordered #5. What's the deal with certain manga being so damn hard to find? And what the hell is up with B&N offering pre-orders when all they do is cancel them for me? Sheesh! I've yelled at them several times for pulling that shit on me.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading #5. Things pick up big time in book 4, but book five is one of my favorites because of Kato's story. I cried reading it the first time. His retelling of his life is just painful, and so very realistic. Crap like that happens to kids, and it's horrible.

Angel Sanctuary is just a sad story, period. It's got some messed up themes, not for the light at heart or those who are bound tight by their morals. Still, that's what makes it a good story, because of the spin it puts onto such things.

And Lordy...Rosiel is just MESSED UP! I mean, feeding orphaned kids to his pet Katan, his servant who he turned into a pulsing ball of meat monster...Not to mention he's obessed with his sister...his twin sister...*shakes head* The evil guys in this story are scary...really scary...like insane but smart really scary...(Think Hannibal Lecter). The boy...er...Angel is insanity incarnate...

Angel Sanctuary is a complicated story. In talking with some of my friends who share my love of manga, and browsing various forum and mailing lists, I realized how many people don't even begin to understand some of the significance of the names and places in this series. Hell, even I get confused, and I'm a big fan of mythology and crap like that. I also see many people complaining about the English translation, which is to be expected in a fandom over-run with elitist morons (read:otaku). Most of these complainers have read various fan translations, which we all know are far more accurate than a professional translation. I mean, Yggdrasil is spelled "Yugdorashil" in Japanese dammit! How dare they change it to the English spelling! Bastards! (yes, this is sarcasam).

Anyway, I don't feel like ranting about the idocies of otaku today, but instead I'm going to talk about a few of the significances found in Angel Sanctuary. If you like a bit of mythology, sit back and relax. You'll probably learn something interesting! (for a bit of fun, I'll tag on some of the Angel Sanctuary characters as well)

Yggdrasil (not "Yugdorashil") Means "Terrible Horse or "The Horse of Ygg". It's the name of the World Ash Tree that became the gallows of Odin. The name is probably meant to be poetic, since "drasil" means horse and men rode to their deaths from the gallows on horseback. That's a theory anyway. Another thing about Yggdrasil, it was considered the "axis mundi". It's roots supported the earth, it's trunk passed through the world's middle, it's branched stretched across the sky like stars. You know those famous Fates ( or Norns)? They lived under it's roots by the famous "Fount of Wisdom". Oh, one more thing, Yggdrasil was chewed upon by a giant serpent who would eventually topple it. That was when doomsday would arrive and everything would crumble.

Hvergelmir was known as the "roaring caludron" or the well spring of cold in Niflheim. All cold rivers were believed to come from this place and it was guarded by Ivaldi and his sons.

Nidhogg is the name of the serpant that chews upon Yggdrasil. He was said to fight with the eagle that lived in the upper most branches of the tree and fed upon dead corpses to sustain himself. His job is to destroy Yggdrasil and bring about the apocolypse.

Adam Kadamon (also written as Adam Kadmon in Kabbalah) is primordial man. The first being to emerge and become one with God's creation of the the cosmos. There are many different beliefs revolving around Adam Kadamon and his significance. In some Gnostic sects, Adam Kadamon is coextensive with the cosmos, his body is the body of the world, and his soul the soul of all souls.

(Adam Kadamon acts as a guide for Setsuna)

Aziluth is the "World of Nobility", or the highest and most abstract of the four Qabalistic worlds. It the divine world, also known as the Archetypes.

Etemenanki is the temple of the creation of heaven and earth. It was seven stories in height, but is nothing more than ruins now. Some believe it is the Tower of Babel.

Metatron was the Angel who sat next to God. He was believed to be a prophet and his job in Heaven was to transcribe events as they happened. He was the greatest of all Angels, honored as the angel of the face, the angel of the presence, chief of the ministering angels, the chief recording angel, chancellor of heaven, the angel by whom the world is maintained, and a being so mighty that he held many, many titles. He also has a twin, Sandalphon.

Metatron is a child in Angel Sanctuary. However, he's still the ruler of Heaven.

Sandalphon was said to be the master of song and the Angel of Prayer. He was also known to be the one who determines the sex of unborne children. His primary function, however, was to act as a guide. He was the twin of Metatron.

Belial comes from the Hebrew meaning "Wicked One". Lucifer's head henchman, the number one demon in Hell. Thought Lucifer ruled, Belial was in charge. Belial was said to govern 80 Infernal Legions, and he is the Sixty-eighth Spirit listed in the Goetia.

(Belial, also known as the Mad Hatter in Angel Sanctuary, she is Lucifer's right hand but has her own agenda)

Asmodeus Asmodeus, also known as Ashmadia, most likely originated from the Persian Aeshmadeva.

Lilith was Adam's first wife in the Hebrew bible. She was stubborn, willful, and refused to be subserviant. She left him and was turned out of Paradise. Before God created Eve, he sent three angels to try and convince Lilith to return to Adam, but she refused. God then cursed her and sent 100 of her offspring to die.

Astaroth was the 29th spirit who appears in the form of a hurtful angel riding on the back of a dragon and carrying a viper in his right hand. Possibly the treasurer of Hell and said to reign over 40 legions.

(one of Lucifer's men, Astaroth)

Raphael was the Angel of healing. He is known as the Semitic God of Air and one of the four presences set over all the diseases and all the wounds of the children of men. He is charged with the health of the Earth and is also known as the Angel of joy and regeant of travelers.

(Archangel Rafael is the angel of healing, but in AS, he has his own set of issues)

Uriel is the spirit of ministration and peace. He's also known as the dark angel, as he was the one who wrestled with Jacob, was the destroyer of the hosts of Sennacherib, was the messenger sent by God to Noah to warn him of the impending flood, etc.

(Uriel in AS is the dark angel that guards the gates of Hell. His home is Yggdrasil)

Zaphkiel was the angel of mercy and freedom.

Gehenna is old english for "hell", comparable to that of the Hebrew "sheol" or Greek "hades", though the meaning isn't quite the same as today.

For those curious to how Lucifer (Satan) appears in this story, here are a few pictures:

It might be worth noting that Lucifer (once known as Lucifel in Heaven) has a very special role in this story. Though we are taught that the devil is all things evil and horrible, Angel Sanctuary puts a spin on his objectives. He's one of my favorite characters in this series, in a story where everything we've learned about right and wrong, good and bad is defied.

I've left out many other key players and specific terms this time. I'm lazy that way, but I suggesting picking up these books and taking a look for yourself. Yuki Kaori delves deep into biblical terms and draws from all various aspects of different religions. The tale she weaves is masterful and beautiful. The art work is the best I've seen, the only rival would be from Yami no Matsuei, which is a fabulously drawn and constructed story as well.

Posted by Zoso at November 7, 2004 10:13 PM