Within the nine orders of angels, only archangels and angels (the lowest categories in the hierarchy) are traditionally said to interact with man and woman in the course of daily life. In some cases, the angel serves only as a messenger, but in others, the angel lingers in visible form, taking responsibility for the well-being of individuals in trouble, guarding them from harm, offering them sustenance, or leading them out of danger. A cherub is not a cupid, although they often look much the same; in fact, in purely visual terms, they are frequently indistinguishable. But their meanings are as different as spirituality and sexuality. Cupid, the Roman god known as Eros to the Greeks, is a symbol of sensual love. Portrayed as a male child or adolescent, he often carries a bow and arrow, which are emblems of love's power; he is also frequently blindfolded, because love is blind. A cherub, however, has quite another meaning. Cherubim (the original plural form of cherub) rank as the second highest group in the celestial hierarchy and are the first angels mentioned in the Bible: in Genesis cherubim with a flaming sword guard the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Cherubs rarely wear anything more than flowers, and the form they take is that of putti (Italian for "little boys")~~the plump, rosy-bottomed male figures used as decorative elements in both religious and mythological art. Adoring cherubs often worship the young Christ. Angels are first and foremost messengers; in fact, the word angel is derived from the Greek word for messenger. One of the most frequently painted scenes in Christian art~~particularly favored during the renassaince~~is the Annunciation. As chronicled in the Gospel of Luke, it was Gabriel who announced to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the child of God. In many Annunciations a ribbonlike banner unfurls, emblazoned with the words Ecce ancilla domini ("Behold the handmaid of the Lord"), taken from Luke's account.

Back to Dawnna's Angel Page