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 Torah (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. 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.

The Zohar identifies Metatron as the angel that led the people of Israel through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Metatron is also mentioned in the Pseudepigrapha, most notably in the Hebrew Book of Enoch (also called 3rd Enoch). According to Johann Eisenmenger, Metatron transmits the daily orders of God to the angels Gabriel and Sammael.

In Gustav Davidson's "Dictionary of Angels", Metatron is the twin brother of Sandalphon (Ophan).

Metatron's Cube

Metatron's cube is widely considered the pinnacle of ancient geometry. 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 in popular culture

Metatron appears as a major character in the 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.

In Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's novel Good Omens, the Metatron works like the voice of God, similar to the film Dogma, but it is unsure if people will blow up if they hear His own voice or not. In an explanatory foot note, "The Voice Of God" is likened to a Presidential Press Secretary.

In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Metatron is an angel and Regent of the Kingdom of Heaven, hence in league with The Authority (God).

In the videogame series Silent Hill, a recurring symbol is eventually revealed to be a talisman of Metatron, with the power to dispel evil.

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 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.

See also

• Theophanyde:Metatron