Angels and Greek mythology
Nerd Gerl
Shiva - maybe you could help with this: I'll ask something, I'll get *ancient*
Greek names for stuff. But there's a problem - It's All Greek To Me! lol
Thanks :-o
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Saint
would rather not know if it comes from me, here is some info.
Angelos or Aggelos is the Greek word for Angels. It means "messenger." All
the gods of Greek mythology had messengers. Every living soul also had a
guardian or distinct messenger. These were called Daemons or Daimons. They
directed he soul to do the god's bidding. Often they appeared with winged
feet, winged helmets or full blown wings. Nike, the Greek Angel of Victory,
had wings. Of course the Etruscans, who preceded the Greeks and Romans, had
a full mythology that featured wonderful tomb paintings of both bird winged
angels and bat winged devils. Much of what the Greek or Hellenistic people
who adopted Christianity from Paul of Tarsus, held in belief about angels,
came directly from their own interpretations and old religions, and not
necessarily from the Old Testament, (which at first they had hardly any
access to). So Daimons became angelos. The old gods were thrown out, but the
saints and angels easily took their places. The Greek and Latin culture
emphasized the angelic and angels much more than even the Judaic culture
did. The writers of the New Testament saw angels everywhere, as guardian
spirits, as protectors and as healers. It was the Greeks who first developed
"Angelology." And arranged angels in hierarchies and thrones, dominions,
principalities, etc. Much of which was patterned after the Roman/Greco war
machine, the ranks of soldiers and the levels of officers. The first
writings of the New Testament of course were in Greek. So all the
Hebrew/Aramaic content had to be translated into Greek. Of course there had
long been a Greco/Phoenician (Middle Eastern),connection, as the Greeks
developed their alphabet and language using the Phoenician alphabet. So many
words of a Middle Eastern type entered into the Greek language early on.
(Like Cherubim and Adonai). The two cultures of Judaism and Hellenism were
at odds, but somehow Christianity produced a bridge between the two and
blended them. The old Greek gods became devils and demons, with Greek names,
like Apollyon and Hades. Lucifer of course is a Roman name. But the Romans
had the same gods as the Greeks, just under different names.Yet significant
names like Hermes and Adonis remained as "good guys" in the myth cycle.
That's about it for off the top of my head. Sounds though like N.G. had a
significant past life in Greece or as a Hellenistic person. Her angels are
very Greek in form and type, beautiful, nude (the Greeks appreciated the
nude form of man above all. Whereas the Jews were mightily offended by it),
winged, dwelling in a cloudy, blue heavenly place. Looking like perfect
human specimens, yet with divine attributes. Sounds like her past is trying
to tell her something.
It is indeed a shame that Shiva will not share his knowledge with the rest
of us. I hope this is not entirely because of me. That would be doubly sad.
Namaste'
SAINT
Nerd Gerl
>For those of you who might want to know, besides Nerdgerl, who indicates she
>would rather not know if it comes from me, here is some info.
Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. However, I was looking for a *psychic*
connection/verification between angels and Greek mythology - not between me and
ancient Greece. The information you provided is available in any encyclopedia
or art book, in which I have read eons ago.
Saint
I thought you might rather not like me professing any psychic stuff towards
you. So I kept it general. And though you might know these things, there are
others who do not.
Reiteration is how we learn.
But it is obvious you have a psychic connection with ancient Greece. You
mentioned before a vision or a dream of a small, black marble temple. I was
being a jerk when I said it had to do with tombs and death. Actually these
little temples were sometimes personal places of prayer or contemplation or
could be used as a gathering spot for public forums and philosophizing.
Since you seem to love philosophy, I would say you have a deep connection
there. However I am not a trained psychic. So I'll just leave it at that.
Namaste'
SAINT
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