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Difference between revisions of "Grigori"

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The '''Grigori''' are a group of [[fallen angel]]s told of in [[Biblical]] [[apocrypha]] who mated with mortal women, giving rise to a race of giants known as the [[Nephilim]]. Also known as "[[Watchers]]" (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''egrḗgoroi''), the Grigori appear in the books of ''[[Book of Enoch|Enoch]]'' and ''[[Jubilees]]''.


According to the ''Book of Enoch'', the Grigori numbered a total of 200 but only their leaders are named:
:''These are the names of their chiefs: [[Samyaza]], who was their leader, Urakabarameel, Akibeel, Tamiel, Ramuel, Danel, Azkeel, Saraknyal, Asael, Armers, Batraal, Anane, Zavebe, Samsaveel, Ertael, Turel, Yomyael, Azazyel'' (also known as [[Azazel]]). ''These were the prefects of the two hundred angels, and the remainder were all with them.'' (Enoch 7:9)
In ''Enoch'', the Watchers are angels apparently dispatched to Earth simply to watch over the humans. They soon begin to lust for the human women they see, and at the prodding of their leader Samyaza, they defect en masse to marry and live among the humans. The children produced by these relationships are the [[Nephilim]], savage giants who pillage the earth and endanger humanity. Samyaza, Azazel, and the others become corrupt, and teach their human hosts to make metal weapons, [[cosmetics]], and other necessities of civilization that had been kept secret in Heaven. But the humans are dying and cry to the heavens for help. God sends the [[Great Flood]] to rid the earth of the Nephilim, but sends [[Uriel]] to warn [[Noah]] so as not to eradicate the human race. The Grigori are bound "in the valleys of the Earth" until [[Judgement Day]].
The Watchers story in Enoch is derived from ''[[Genesis (Hebrew Bible)|Genesis]]'' chapter 6. Verses 1-4 describe the "Origin of the Nephilim" and mention the "Sons of God" who beget them:
:''When men began to multiply on earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of heaven saw how beautiful the daughters of man were, and so they took for their wives as many of them as they chose. Then the Lord said: "My spirit shall not remain in man forever, since he is but flesh. His days shall comprise one hundred and twenty years." At that time the Nephilim appeared on earth (as well as later), after the sons of heaven had intercourse with the daughters of man, who bore them sons. They were the heroes of old, the men of renown.'' (Genesis 6:1-4)
Here, the "sons of heaven" are given no specific name or function; they could represent fallen angels, or simply heavenly beings that mate with human women.
The ''Book of Jubilees'' adds further details about the Watchers. While "Watchers" or "Sentinels" are mentioned alongside the "holy ones" in the ''[[Book of Daniel]]'', it is doubtful they have any connection to the Grigori. The angels were fairly popular in [[Jewish folklore]], which often describes them as looking like large human beings that never sleep and forever silent. While there are good and bad Watchers, most stories revolve around the evil ones that fell from grace when they took "the daughters of man" as their mates.
==References to other Grigori==
* [[Armaros]] (also spelled [[Amaros]]) in ''[[Enoch]] I'' taught men the resolving of enchantments.
* [[Araqiel]] (also spelled [[Arakiel]], [[Araqael]], [[Araciel]], [[Arqael]], [[Sarquael]], [[Arkiel]], [[Arkas]]) in ''[[Enoch I]]'' taught humans the signs of the earth. However, in the ''[[Sibylline Oracles]]'' [[Araqiel]] is refered to not as a [[fallen angel]], or Grigori, but as one of the 5 [[angels]] who lead the souls of men to judgement, the other 4 being [[Ramiel]], [[Uriel]], [[Samiel]], and [[Aziel]].
* [[Azazel]] in Rabbinic Literature and [[Enoch I]] taught men to make knives, swords, and shields.  He also taught them how to devise ornaments and cosmetics.
* [[Baraqel]] (Baraqiel) taught men astrology (from [[Enoch I]].
* [[Chazaqiel]] taught men the signs of the clouds (meteorology) {In [[Enoch I]].
* [[Kokabiel]], also [[Kakabel]], [[Kochbiel]], [[Kokbiel]], [[Kabaiel]], and [[Kochab]], In ''[[The Book of the Angel Raziel]]'', Kakabel is a high ranking, holy angel; but in [[apocryphal]] lore generally, and also in ''[[Enoch I]]'', he is a fallen Grigori and resident of nether realms and commands 365,000 surrogate spirits to do his bidding. Among other duties he instructs his fellows in astrology.
* [[Sariel (angel)|Sariel]], also [[Suriel]], [[Zerachiel]], and [[Sarakiel]] , one of the 7 [[archangels]] originally listed in the Enoch books as [[Saraqel]]. Apocryphicaly he is the governer of the [[zodiacal]] sign of [[Aries]]. In the Enoch books he also teaches of the courses of the [[moon]] (at one time regarded as forbidden knwledge).
* [[Samyaza]], also [[Shemyazaz]], [[Shamazya]], [[Semiaza]], [[Shemhazi]], [[Semyaza]] and [[Amezyarak]], One of the leaders of the fall from heaven. Refered to in The ''[[Dead Sea Scrolls]]'' and ''[[Vocabulaire de l' Angelologie]]''
* [[Shamsiel]], once a guardian of [[Eden]], in [[The Zohar]], [[Shamshiel]] served as one of the 2 chief aides to the [[archangel]] [[Uriel]] (the other aide being [[Hasdiel]]) when [[Uriel]] bore his standard into battle, and is the head of 365 legions of angels and also crowns prayers, accompanying them to the 5th heaven. He is refered to in ''[[The Book of Jubilees]]'' as one of the Grigori, aka the [[Watchers]]. In ''[[Enoch I]]'' he is a fallen angel who teaches the signs of the [[sun]].
===Grigori in Modern Fiction===
*In the mid-1990s British author [[Storm Constantine]] authored the [[Grigori Trilogy]], a dark fantasy series that builds upon the Watcher legend and the work of [[UFO]] writer [[Andrew Collins (author)|Andrew Collins]].
*In [[Kevin Smith]]'s movie ''[[Dogma (film)|Dogma]]'', Bartleby, one of the two fallen angels, is mentioned as being a Grigori, although it should be noted that his fall was much later, during the time of Moses.
*In [[science fiction]] painter [[Wayne Douglas Barlowe]]'s ''Brushfire: Illuminations from the Inferno'', the Grigori, like many of the eldest demons, have become embedded into the very landscape of Hell, collected in a place called Mount Grigori. A demonic monastery housing a secretive cult has been built atop the fetally hunched body of Azazel.

Revision as of 16:54, 18 April 2007

The Grigori are a group of fallen angels told of in Biblical apocrypha who mated with mortal women, giving rise to a race of giants known as the Nephilim. Also known as "Watchers" (from Greek egrḗgoroi), the Grigori appear in the books of Enoch and Jubilees.

According to the Book of Enoch, the Grigori numbered a total of 200 but only their leaders are named:

These are the names of their chiefs: Samyaza, who was their leader, Urakabarameel, Akibeel, Tamiel, Ramuel, Danel, Azkeel, Saraknyal, Asael, Armers, Batraal, Anane, Zavebe, Samsaveel, Ertael, Turel, Yomyael, Azazyel (also known as Azazel). These were the prefects of the two hundred angels, and the remainder were all with them. (Enoch 7:9)

In Enoch, the Watchers are angels apparently dispatched to Earth simply to watch over the humans. They soon begin to lust for the human women they see, and at the prodding of their leader Samyaza, they defect en masse to marry and live among the humans. The children produced by these relationships are the Nephilim, savage giants who pillage the earth and endanger humanity. Samyaza, Azazel, and the others become corrupt, and teach their human hosts to make metal weapons, cosmetics, and other necessities of civilization that had been kept secret in Heaven. But the humans are dying and cry to the heavens for help. God sends the Great Flood to rid the earth of the Nephilim, but sends Uriel to warn Noah so as not to eradicate the human race. The Grigori are bound "in the valleys of the Earth" until Judgement Day.

The Watchers story in Enoch is derived from Genesis chapter 6. Verses 1-4 describe the "Origin of the Nephilim" and mention the "Sons of God" who beget them:

When men began to multiply on earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of heaven saw how beautiful the daughters of man were, and so they took for their wives as many of them as they chose. Then the Lord said: "My spirit shall not remain in man forever, since he is but flesh. His days shall comprise one hundred and twenty years." At that time the Nephilim appeared on earth (as well as later), after the sons of heaven had intercourse with the daughters of man, who bore them sons. They were the heroes of old, the men of renown. (Genesis 6:1-4)

Here, the "sons of heaven" are given no specific name or function; they could represent fallen angels, or simply heavenly beings that mate with human women.

The Book of Jubilees adds further details about the Watchers. While "Watchers" or "Sentinels" are mentioned alongside the "holy ones" in the Book of Daniel, it is doubtful they have any connection to the Grigori. The angels were fairly popular in Jewish folklore, which often describes them as looking like large human beings that never sleep and forever silent. While there are good and bad Watchers, most stories revolve around the evil ones that fell from grace when they took "the daughters of man" as their mates.

References to other Grigori

Grigori in Modern Fiction

  • In the mid-1990s British author Storm Constantine authored the Grigori Trilogy, a dark fantasy series that builds upon the Watcher legend and the work of UFO writer Andrew Collins.
  • In Kevin Smith's movie Dogma, Bartleby, one of the two fallen angels, is mentioned as being a Grigori, although it should be noted that his fall was much later, during the time of Moses.
  • In science fiction painter Wayne Douglas Barlowe's Brushfire: Illuminations from the Inferno, the Grigori, like many of the eldest demons, have become embedded into the very landscape of Hell, collected in a place called Mount Grigori. A demonic monastery housing a secretive cult has been built atop the fetally hunched body of Azazel.