According to the Book of Enoch, exactly 200 Watchers fell to Earth to take human wives. It names 20 of these, explaining that each one was a leader in a group of 10. In his book From the Ashes of Angels, Andrew Collins names a few others, and other reference works corroborate some of the names given in these sources, sometimes with alternate spellings. Through these various sources, I have collected information on what some of these named Watchers taught to mankind. Where there was a variation in wording, I have included both wordings. According to Collins, there is no complete record of the names of all 200 Watchers. Most of the names included in Enoch are not included in other books, apocryphal or otherwise; in fact, very few of the others appear inother mythological texts; these include Azazel and Kokabel (Shemyaza is a central character in Storm Constantine's Grigori triology). Azazel is a curious example; although the Watchers, in the beginning of Enoch, swear to Shemyaza, the clear leader, that they will not change their minds about descending. But later, Azazel takes the brunt of the blame for what happens (to his credit, he taught more forbidden items to humankind than the others). He was thrown into the canyon of Duadel, and pinned with sharp rocks, with his face covered. In the Biblical book Leviticus, he is recreated as a desert creature to whom the ancient Israelites dedicated their scapegoats:
"Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord, and offer it as a sin offering; but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the lord to make atonement for it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel." In still later times, Azazel is considered a demon, and is occasionally identified as the devil -- or as one of his chieftains. Kokabel, or Kakabel, also appears in Jewish folklore as a powerful angel who is in charge of the stars and constellations. He is considered by some to be a holy angel; by others, a fallen one. It is said that he commands 365,000 lesser spirits and teaches astrology to his fellow angels. Sariel is known under many names, but this one translates to "God's command." Some say he is the angel of death; he is named as the one who retrieved the soul of Moses from Mount Sinai. He is also called by some a "prince of the presence" and an angel of healing. His name appears in Gnostic amulets and it is said that when he's invoked he manifests in the form of an ox; according to the Cabala, he is one of the seven angels that rule the earth. He is also associated with the skies and is in charge of the zodiac sign of Aries and instructs others on the course of the Moon. In occult circles he is one of the nine angels of the summer equinox and can protect against the evil eye. What follows is as complete a list of the Watchers' names as I can find; I will add names as I discover more of them.
1. Semyaza, Shemyaza, Semjaza, Semiaza, Samyaza, Shemhazai
2. Azazel, Azazyel, Azaziel "Taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures."
3. Amazarak
4. Armers, Armeros, Armaros
5. Barkayal, Baraqijal, Baraqel
6. Kokabel, Kawkabel, Kakabel
7. Ezeqeel, Ezekeel
8. Araqiel, Arakiel
9. Shamsiel, Shamshiel
10. Sariel,, Suriel, Zerachiel, Saraquel, Asardel
11. Akibeel
12. Tamiel
13. Penemue
14. Kasdeja, Kisdeja
15. Gadreel
16. Ramuell
"The Nefilim ('Fallen Ones') bore many other tribal names, such as Emim
('Terrors'), Repha'im ('Weakeners'), Gibborim ('Giant Heroes'), Zamzummim
('Achievers'), Anakim ('Long-necked' or 'Wearers of Necklaces'), Awwim
('Devastators' or 'Serpents'). One of the Nefilim named Arba is said to have
built the city of Hebron, called 'Kiriath-Arba' after him, and become the
father of Anak whose three sons, Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, were later
expelled by Joshua's comrade Caleb. Since, however, arba means 'four' in
Hebrew, Kiriath-Arba may have originally have meant 'City of Four,' a
reference to its four quarters mythically connected with the Anakite clans:
Anak himself and his 'sons' Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai." |