Metatron: Encyclopedia - Metatron

Metatron

Metatron (alternate spelling: Metraton, sometimes referred to as the Latin Metator) is the name of an angel in Judaism and some branches of Christianity. However, there are no references to him in the Jewish Tanakh (Old Testament) or the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) and there is no consensus as to his genesis or the role that he plays in the hierarchy of Heaven and Hell. A mysterious figure, Metatron is identified with the term, "lesser YHVH" in a Talmudic version read by the Karaite scholar Kirkisani. Interestingly, the word 'Metatron' is numerically equivalent to Shaddai according to Hebrew gematria, therefore he is said to have a "Name like his Master". The Talmud also records an incident with Elisha ben Abuya, also called Aher ("another"), who is said to have entered Paradise, and saw Metatron sitting down (an action in heaven that is permissible only to God Himself). Elisha ben Abuya therefore looked to Metatron as a Deity, and is reported to have said, "There are indeed two powers in heaven!" The rabbis explain that Metatron was allowed to sit because of his function as the Heavenly Scribe, writing down the deeds of Israel. According to one school of thought, Enoch was taken by God and transformed into Metatron. However, this viewpoint is not shared by many Talmudic authorities. There also seem to be two Metatrons, one spelled with six letters, and one spelled with seven. The former may be the transformed Enoch, while the latter is the Primordial Metatron.

The Zohar calls Metatron "the Youth", identifies him as the angel that led the people of Israel through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, and describes him as a heavenly priest. Metatron is also mentioned in the Pseudepigrapha, most prominently in the Hebrew Book of Enoch (also called 3rd Enoch), in which his grand title, "the lesser YHVH" resurfaces. According to Johann Eisenmenger, Metatron transmits the daily orders of God to the angels Gabriel and Sammael. Metatron is often identified as being the twin brother to Sandalphon, who is said to have been the prophet Elijah.

Metatron - Metatron's Cube

Each of the thirteen circles (referred to as 'nodes') is connected to each other node with a single line, creating a total of seventy-eight lines. Within the cube, many other shapes can be found, including two dimensional models of the five platonic solids.

In early kabbalist scriptures, Metatron supposedly forms the cube from his soul, which can later be seen in Christian art, where it appears on his chest or floating behind him. Metatron's cube is also considered a holy glyph, and was often drawn around an object or person to ward off demons and satanic powers. This idea is also present in alchemy, in which the cube was favoured as a containment circle or creation circle.

Metatron - Metatron in popular culture

• Metatron appears as a major character in Kevin Smith's film Dogma, where he is played by Alan Rickman. Here he is the voice of God, who cannot speak directly to a human, because the voice of God is so powerful it would kill the person. "We went through five Adams before we figured that one out," he drolly comments.
• Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow also features Metatron.
• Maurice Dantec's Cosmos Incorporated features Metatron as the main angel with whom the hero, Sergueï Plotkine, has to deal.
• In Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's novel Good Omens, the Metatron appears as the voice of God. An explanatory footnote likens his role to a Presidential Press Secretary.
• In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Metatron is a malevolent angel and Regent of the Kingdom of Heaven with the Authority (God) incapacitated, having once been his enforcer, and now seeking to supplant him.
• In the videogame series Silent Hill, a recurring symbol is eventually revealed to be a talisman of Metatron, with the power to dispel evil. Metatron appears as a protective force, opposed to the work of Samael.
• Jack Kirby's sprawling New Gods epic comic book saga features a studious deity called Metron, who appears where needed, to offer the protagonists cryptic words of wisdom - a relative of Metatron, perhaps?
• In the video game, Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage, one version of the character named Asura has a move named after Metatron (spelled in reverse, as Nortatem). This causes the character to become much more powerful, at the expense of gradually draining life energy.
• In the anime series Akihabara Dennou Gumi (also known as Cyberteam in Akihabara), a Rosicrucian-based mythological plot involves a boy genius who flees the Earth in a spaceship after World War I. He establishes himself in a hidden orbital castle while back on Earth his former tutor awaits his return, worshipping him as Metatron.
• In the anime series "Angel Sanctuary", Metatron is a small angel referred to as the 'Voice' of God. He is infatuated with dolls and the water angel Jibril. Within Metatron is sealed Sandalphon, who communicates with him through his Rabbit doll.
• Musician Carlos Santana claims that the revitalization of his career in the 21st century is due to Metatron. Santana claims that Metatron visits him while he meditates and describes it as a white, bearded angel.
• In Hideo Kojima's cult videogame series Zone of the Enders, metatron is a new chemical element found on Mars and Jupiter's moons. It serves functions similar to those of silicon, forming computer chips, but is much more advanced, capable of creating completely self-aware artificial intelligence.
• In the Gundam side story Gaia Gear, Metatron is the name of the faction that Afranshia Char, the original Char Aznable's memory clone, sides with.
• In Xenogears, Metatron is one of the four spheres orbiting Deus in the final dungeon.
• In the Megami Tensei line of games, Metatron is one of characters player can recruit and, in some cases, fight.
• The German goth metal band Darkwell has a C.D called Metatron.
• Todd McFarlane's Angela miniseries features a female entity named Metatron who comments about the forces of Hell violating the realm of the Angels.

See also

• Theophany

Category: Angels

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Metatron", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki