Throughout history, mythologies from various cultures have portrayed angels as divine messengers, guardians, and even warriors. However, beyond the well-known renditions depicted in religious texts, there lies a series of lesser-known archetypes often referred to as the “Angels of the Forgotten.”
These mythic figures serve as a testament to the diversity of human belief and the varied roles divine beings play in our mythologies. The term “Angels of the Forgotten” encapsulates those supernatural entities that have been neglected in mainstream narratives yet continue to exist in the folklore of many societies.
The Representation of Forgotten Angels
The forgotten angels transcend the traditional boundaries of benevolence. While some are harbingers of fortune, others embody the inevitability of change or the necessity of consequence. Within these archetypes, several key figures stand out:
- The Angel of Time: In Zoroastrian tradition, Sraosha functions akin to an angel who oversees time. He is said to be a protector guiding the souls of the dead and facilitating their passage, embodying the transcendence of time itself.
- The Angel of Nature: In Celtic mythology, the Tuatha Dé Danann comprises divine beings, including angels of nature who safeguard the earth’s creatures and plants, maintaining the balance of the natural world.
- The Angel of Consequence: The concept of the demon Asmodai in Jewish folklore reflects an angel whose lesson is that of consequence. According to the My Jewish Learning site, Asmodai teaches humanity about the repercussions of overindulgence and avarice.
Forgotten but Influential
The influence of these forgotten angels extends beyond their immediate cultural contexts. Artistic and literary works often draw upon such figures to symbolize human emotions and existential concepts. For example, the famous quote by Phenomenologist Mircea Eliade reminds us that “Myths and symbols are alive; they greet us still on the threshold of our every endeavor.”
“The Universe is a living being possessed of a soul and intelligence… a single visible living entity containing all other living entities, which by their nature are all related.” – Plato
Ultimately, the exploration of these mythic archetypes not only enriches our understanding of ancient cultures but also illustrates humanity’s enduring quest to find meaning through stories of divine messengers and guardians, no matter how obscure they might be in our modern world.