 |
| Angel
Room Ceiling |
The
depiction of angels in the Angel Room is fairly typical. Indeed
the unknown artist has followed a long established tradition used
by Renaissance artists such as Raphael, Michaelangelo and Titan.
Angels
have wings, angels are babies or women, angels play harps. These
are all essential ingredients of the angel stereotype but where
do they come from, and are they Biblical?
Biblical
Visions
Angels are mentioned in both the Old and New Testament. The Greek
and Hebrew word means "messenger", and was used for
human messengers and not just spiritual beings.
Angels
were created by God (Colossians 1:16), and as God's agents they
helped various prophets in the Old and New Testament. The Bible
warned against worshiping them (Colossians 2:18).
| Since
the Bible mentions various kinds of angels various attempts
were made to draw up a hierarchy of angels, the most influential
being Dionysius' Celestial Hierarchy of c.500AD (see right). |
|
|
Dionysius'
Hierarchy
1. Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones
2. Powers, Virtues, Dominions
3. Principalities, Archangels, Angels
|
|
Classical
Influences
The modern image of angels has been shaped by Greek and Roman
mythology.
For example take the image of Cupid, the Roman god of Love (Eros
to the Greeks). He was often portrayed as a naked winged child.
Take away his bow, quiver full of arrows and Valentine hearts
and he looks positively angelic.
Victory
was the Roman goddess of victory (Nike to the Greeks). This winged
female figure appeared from above to crown victorious generals
and athletes with a wreath.
When
Christianity became the official religion of Rome artists still
looked to the old mythologies for inspiration on how to paint
celestial beings.
Then
during the Renaissance there was a revival of interest in the
civilization of ancient Greece and Rome. The great artists of
this period painted religious and mythological scenes in much
the same way. There was even a popular philosophy Neoplatoism
that tried to reconcile Classical mythology with Christianity
| Angels
have wings? |
|
From
scripture the only angels known to have wings are Cherubim
(Ezekiel 10) and Seraphim (Isaiah 6). In early Christian
art angels were rarely represented and were generally 'wingless'.
|
 |
| Then
from the period of Constantine onwards artists began to borrow
from classical winged figures such as Victory and winged angels
became common. By the Middle Ages winged angels were almost
universal. In 1983 a German court decided that angel Christmas
decorations must have wings to be tax exempt! |
| Angels
are babies? |
|
|
The
Bible does not suggest that angels have a gender in our sense
of the word (Matthew 22:30 says they don't get married). Yet
in Acts 1:10 angels seemed to appear as "men ... in white
garments" and this is how they were portrayed in early
Christian Art. In the Middle Ages they were often displayed
as bright celestial beings. |
|
Then
during the Renaissance artists returning to the classical
tradition wanted to celebrate the human form (often nude)
and would borrow from mythological characters such as Victory
and Cupid. Thus angels were painted as female figures in
the latest fashions or as plump little children with wings.
The angels of Raphael, Michaelangelo and Titan have stayed
with us.
|
| Angels
play harps? |
|
Angel
are known to worship God in heaven (Revelation 7:11-12).
Harps, as musical instruments, were used in worship throughout
the Bible: by David in the Psalms (Psalm 33:2), and in John's
Revelation of Heaven (Revelation 14:2). Therefore the idea
that angels play harps might be inferred (particularly by
Revelation 5:8 which suggests the elders and four living
creatures played them).
|
 |
| |
