Raziel

An archangel according to the teachings of the Kabbalah (Judaism). In the earliest reference, the Slavonic Book of Enoch, he is called Raguel or Rasuel. The name "Raziel" means "secret of God." Also known as the "Keeper of Secrets", "The Angel of the Secret Regions", and the "Angel of Mysteries". Under another name, Galizur or "Revealer of the Rock, he is known as the "ruling prince of the second heaven."He is ascribed to several different roles in the Judaic hierarchy of angels, commonly as a cherub, an Ophan (the Ophanim are the four carriers of the throne of God), or one of the Erelim.

Raziel is most-known for the Sefer Raziel HaMalach (Book of Raziel the Angel), which contained all earthly and celestial knowledge. As one of the Ophanim, he stands close to the throne of God and hears all, which he writes in his book. According to the Book of Raziel, he is the angel of magic and taught astrology and divination to mankind.

"Each day the angel Raziel makes proclamation on Mount Horeb, from heaven, of the secrets of men to all that dwell upon the earth, and his voice resounds throughout the world."

~ Targum Ecclesiastes. 10,20

He is said to have given the Book of Raziel to Adam and Eve after they were banished from the Garden of Eden. This upset the other angels, who took the book from Adam and threw it into the ocean, but God retrieved the book and gave it back to Adam. The book later came to Enoch, Noah -- who used the knowledge in the book to build his ark -- and eventually Solomon.

There are different interpretations of Raziel's appearance. In Jewish tradition, he has blue wings and wears a gray robe. In Faith Hunter's Rogue Mage series, "his feathers are pure scarlet, a darker shade than a cardinal, his nervure, the veins visible through the soft down of the underarm, are a bright teal except when he is fighting or excited—then they turn a brighter red. His eyes are more beautiful than the finest ruby, with red irises in a tawny-skinned face, jaw of carved marble. Smells like honey and chocolate."

Raziel is a chief figure in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. In these books, Raziel created the race of Nephilim, human-angel hybrids, to fight the presence of demons on earth.

See Also: angel, archangel, cherub, Kabbalah, Judaism

Sources and More Information: Angelic Artistry, Crystalinks, Faith Hunter's Website, JewishEncyclopedia.com

Related Books:
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Bloodring by Faith Hunter
Host by Faith Hunter
Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Seraphs by Faith Hunter
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust