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[[File:Samael.png|400px|thumb|The Archangel Samael as depicted in the [[Angel Tarot]]]] | [[File:Samael.png|400px|thumb|The Archangel Samael as depicted in the [[Angel Tarot]]]] | ||
::''This article is about the deity, for the [[qlippoth]], see [[Samael (qlippoth)]]'' | |||
'''Samael''' (Hebrew: סַמָּאֵל, Sammāʾēl, "Venom/Poison of God") 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). | '''Samael''' (Hebrew: סַמָּאֵל, Sammāʾēl, "Venom/Poison of God") 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). | ||
Although many of his functions resemble the [[Christianity|Christian]] notion of Satan, to the point of being sometimes identified as a [[fallen angel]], he is not necessarily evil, since his functions are also regarded as resulting in good, such as destroying sinners. | Although many of his functions resemble the [[Christianity|Christian]] notion of Satan, to the point of being sometimes identified as a [[fallen angel]], he is not necessarily evil, since his functions are also regarded as resulting in good, such as destroying sinners. | ||
As guardian [[angel]] and prince of Rome, he is the archenemy of Israel. By the beginning of Jewish culture in Europe, Samael had been established as a representative of Christianity, due to his identification with Rome. Samael is also depicted as the angel of death and one of the seven archangels, the ruler over the Fifth Heaven and commander of two million angels such as the chief of all the destroying angels | As guardian [[angel]] and prince of Rome, he is the archenemy of Israel. By the beginning of Jewish culture in Europe, Samael had been established as a representative of Christianity, due to his identification with Rome. Samael is also depicted as the angel of death and one of the seven archangels, the ruler over the Fifth [[Heaven]] and commander of two million angels such as the chief of all the destroying angels. | ||
==Jewish holy texts== | ==Jewish holy texts== | ||
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In the Midrash Konen, he is the ruler of the third [[hell]]. Several sources, such as Yalkut Shimoni (I, 110) describe him as the guardian [[angel]] of Esau relating him to Rome, the one who wrestled with Jacob, the angel who ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and a patron of Edom. | In the Midrash Konen, he is the ruler of the third [[hell]]. Several sources, such as Yalkut Shimoni (I, 110) describe him as the guardian [[angel]] of Esau relating him to Rome, the one who wrestled with Jacob, the angel who ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and a patron of Edom. | ||
He is considered in Midrashic texts to be a member of the heavenly host with often grim and destructive duties. One of Samael's greatest roles in [[Judaism|Jewish]] lore is that of the main angel of death and the head of satans. Although he condones the sins of man, he remains one of [[Yahweh|God]]'s servants. 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. However, the serpent is not a form of Samael, but a beast he rode like a camel. In a single account he is also believed to be the father of Cain, as well as the partner of [[Lilith]]. In early Talmudic and Midrashic literature he is not identified with Satan yet. Only in later Midrashim he is entitled "head of satans." | He is considered in Midrashic texts to be a member of the heavenly host with often grim and destructive duties. One of Samael's greatest roles in [[Judaism|Jewish]] lore is that of the main angel of death and the head of satans. Although he condones the sins of man, he remains one of [[Yahweh|God]]'s servants. 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. However, the serpent is not a form of Samael, but a beast he rode like a camel. In a single account he is also believed to be the father of Cain, as well as the partner of [[Lilith]]. In early Talmudic and Midrashic literature he is not identified with Satan yet. Only in later Midrashim he is entitled "head of satans." | ||
==Kabbalah== | ==Kabbalah== | ||
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==Gnostic thought== | ==Gnostic thought== | ||
In [[Gnosticism|gnostic]] texts, Samael is one of three names of the demiurge, whose other names are Yaldabaoth, Saklas and [[Yahweh]]. | In [[Gnosticism|gnostic]] texts, Samael is one of three names of the demiurge, whose other names are Yaldabaoth, Saklas and [[Yahweh]]. | ||
In some [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] cosmologies, Samael's role as source of evil became identified with the Demiurge, the creator of the material world. 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. | |||
After Yaldabaoth claims sole divinity for himself, the voice of Sophia comes forth calling him Samael, due to his ignorance. In ''On the Origin of the World'', his name is explained as "blind god" and his fellow Archons are said to be blind, too. This reflecting the characteristics of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[the Devil|devil]], making people blind, as does the devil in 2 Corinthians 4. Also Samael is the first sinner in the Hypostasis of the Archons and the First Epistle of John calls the devil as sinner from the beginning. These characteristics combined with his boasting conflates the [[Judaism|Jewish]] god with the devil. His appearance is that of a lion-faced serpent. Although the Gnostics and Jewish originally used the same source, both depictions of Samael developed independently. | After Yaldabaoth claims sole divinity for himself, the voice of Sophia comes forth calling him Samael, due to his ignorance. In ''On the Origin of the World'', his name is explained as "blind god" and his fellow Archons are said to be blind, too. This reflecting the characteristics of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[the Devil|devil]], making people blind, as does the devil in 2 Corinthians 4. Also Samael is the first sinner in the Hypostasis of the Archons and the First Epistle of John calls the devil as sinner from the beginning. These characteristics combined with his boasting conflates the [[Judaism|Jewish]] god with the devil. His appearance is that of a lion-faced serpent. Although the Gnostics and Jewish originally used the same source, both depictions of Samael developed independently. | ||