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Shamsiel (Aramaic: שמשין אל, Greek: Σεμιήλ), also spelled Samsâpêêl, Shamshel, Shashiel or Shamshiel, was the 16th Watcher of the 20 leaders of the 200 fallen angels that are mentioned in an ancient work called the Book of Enoch. The name means "sun of God"^[1], which is fitting since it has been said that Shamsiel taught men the songs of the sun during the days of Jared or Yered. Shamash (the Babylonian sun god) may share some mythological basis with Shamsiel^[1].

Shamsiel is said to lead 365 legions of lesser angels in the Zohar and it is said that he was assigned by God to guard the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were expelled; this would make him a cherub if this legend is true. There is apparently some disagreement in sources as to whether or not Shamsiel is a fallen angel; he is still regarded as the ruler of the 4th Heaven and it has been said that he fought on the side of God during the War in Heaven according to some questionable sources. [1]

[edit] Modern culture

There is an angel named Shamshel in the anime series called Neon Genesis Evangelion, ostensibly named for the ancient Hebrew entity. Shamshiel is the real name of the main character in the manga Ansatsu.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Ethiopic Book Of Enoch., Knibb, Michael A., Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978, repr. 1982.