Angels, Demons and Celestial beings

This body of text is a gathering of sources regarding the description visual features and origins of angelic demonic and celestial entries from various cultures and societies.

The following researched information is to inform the conceptualisation of the Overlord alien design for the film adaptation of Childhoods end.

Before exploration of specific demonic traits beneficial to the Overlords visual research a brief  look at the origin and etymology of the character and its trait is established.

Demon originates back to Ancient Greek, daímōn meaning “superhuaman power” or divine power.  As well as daí stemming from daisthetai  “to divide”.

Mon closely associated to Numen the latin term for “divine will”

Its translated derivative in Arabic shayṭān often refers to a mischievous jinni, ‘spirt’.  

Early Islamic theology and mythology of Šayṭān originates from the Hebrew text Šāṭān "accuser, adversary" 

Interestingly the early beliefs and notions of demons weren’t evil or ominous beings. Substantially removed from later Pagan or Christian characterisations.

‘By the early Roman Empire, cult statues were seen, by pagans and their Christian neighbours alike, as inhabited by the numinous presence of the gods: "Like pagans, Christians still sensed and saw the gods and their power, and as something, they had to assume, lay behind it, by an easy traditional shift of opinion they turned these pagan daimones into malevolent 'demons', the troupe of Satan..... Far into the Byzantine period Christians eyed their cities' old pagan statuary as a seat of the demons' presence. It was no longer beautiful, it was infested’  

Fox, Robin Lane (1989). Pagans and Christians. p. 137.

What were some of the defining visual characteristics and abilities of demons found before the modern contemporary classification?

The Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu took many diverse forms. The most common was a man with a lion or dogs head. Its limbs being talons of an eagle, also sporting two pairs of wings and a scorpions tail. Pazuzu although consider an evil spirt was believed to be a apotropaic creature who would warden off misfortune and other evil spirits, therefore protecting his believers from plagues. 

One of the more unique types of demon is the Nephilim, although believed in biblical Hebrew to be a fallen angel that may have preceded the connotations and creation of the devil. It has a very interesting visual description;

‘The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon (1908) gives the meaning of nephilim as "giants", and holds that proposed etymologies of the word are "all very precarious".^[3] Many suggested interpretations are based on the assumption that the word is a derivative of Hebrew verbal root n-ph-l (נ־פ־ל) "fall". Robert Baker Girdlestone^[4] argued in 1871 the word comes from the Hiphil causative stem, implying that the nephilim are to be perceived as "those that cause others to fall down". Ronald Hendel states that it is a passive form: "ones who have fallen", grammatically analogous to paqid "one who is appointed" (i.e., overseer), asir "one who is bound" (i.e., prisoner), etc’

Hendel, Ronald (22 February 2004). "The Nephilim were on the Earth: Genesis 6:1–4 and its Ancient Near Eastern Context". In Auffarth, Christoph; Stuckenbruck, Loren T. The Fall of the Angels. Brill. pp. 21, 34

The description of the nephilim is synchronistic to that of the Overlords. Large winged giants who have fallen from above and retain an overseer, custodian role but is also bound to that role prisoner. Much like the Overlords who are trapped to the service of overseeing and guiding mankind to evolution.

The only other biblical demon with similarities with the Overlord’s in terms of purpose and is Belphegor.  His purpose is the help his believers make discoveries and technological inventions. Unfortunately the demon is visually atypical, resembling the modern description, goat and serpent like features crowned with horns.  The only fascinating characteristic of Belphegor is association with technology and discovery.

The visual research into demons is by no means exhausted however further visual themes with technological intwined theological creatures can be found abundant with angels and other heavenly or sky deities.

Again a brief look at origin and etymology of angels can uncover interesting traits which may be useful in conceptualisation.

The name originates from latin angelus meaning “messenger”   similarly in Biblical Hebrew, mal’ākh translated from its earliest Septuagint text is ángelos, denoting “herald messenger”

Not only are these entities messengers but on further research, Jewish angelic hierarchy show a whole array of angel types with purposes unlike their demon counterparts, they are organised into formations know as choirs each with their own archangel.

Chayot;  described as a heavenly living sentient chariot. This would make interesting basis to the Overlords mothership.

Ophanim; divine wheels or spheres.  described as "the wheels of galgallin", in "fiery flame" and "burning fire" of the four, eye-covered wheels.   Explained as celestial being that never sleep nor rest and guard the throne of heaven.   This description fits perfectly with the Overlord’s combat drones used to suppress the Freedom Justice League in the story. These drones are apart of the motherships defences and protect the Overlords and their ‘throne’ of technology.

Erelim;  are the brave ones. The name refers to “valiant one or courageous” The Erelim angelhood is also believed to be the agents of earthly justice. These could refer to the overlords character of who judgement and policing the world state.  

Seraphim; six winged beings who hold the knowledge of god and all secrets are unrevealed to them.  Also known in biblical texts as the “phoenixes”  An interesting characterisation of flying multi winged creatures of fire and sun like phenomena.  Depicted in the following, "flying elements of the sun" that reside in either the 4th or 6th heaven, who have twelve wings and burst into song at sunrise’

Davidson, Gustav. (1967) A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels, Entries: 'Chalkydri', p. 84; 'Phoenixes', p. 224

Cherubim; their original depiction is a creature of two pairs of wings and four faces, a lion, an ox, an eagle and a human. It was only later in Western Christian tradition when associated with Putto did these creatures receive the characteristics of a Cupid or Eros, a small child like winged angle.

Malakim; are the messengers or ambassadors. the name also generates fro mal’akah meaning work, occupation or craftsmanship.  A fitting reflection of the the Overlords. Craftsmen with work, ‘job’ to do.  Their occupation is an intergalactic evolution coach.  

Angelic beings have been associated with stars and space early on from biblical scripture, through to astrology and on to early astronomy.

The Japanese Shinto deity Omoikane is a god of wisdom and intelligence. his name means “serving one’s thoughts”  In scripture it appears to descend from a “heavenly" dimension above.

Omoi referring to “think” and Kane identifying as “metal”  in the scene of the verb "to combine”.

which reflects the act of creation the most common Japanese metal, fusion of iron and carbon to create steel.   An interesting description of a creature; thinking metal.