Samyaza
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Samyaza (Aramaic: שמיחזה, Greek: Σεμιαζά) also Semihazah, Shemyazaz, Sêmîazâz, Semjâzâ, Shemyaza, Shemhazai, and Amezarak (Ethiopic corruption) is a fallen angel of Christian tradition that ranked in the heavenly hierarchy as one of the Grigori (meaning "Watchers" in Greek). The name 'Shemyazaz' means 'infamous rebellion', the combination of 'shem' [meaning 'name' or 'fame' {whether positive or negative}] + 'azaz' [which means 'rebellion' or 'arrogance' as a negative particle]. Michael Knibb lists him as “the (or my) name has seen” or “he sees the name”. The interesting thing about the second interpretation is there is a tale about Semjâzâ knowing the explicit name of God and making a deal with a human Istahar to tell her the name.
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[edit] Jewish and Christian views
Samyaza is most likely another name for Sheten (Heb: 'the adversary'), who was originally an entity created in the service of God; he was the caretaker of God's throne, but later fell from the heavens because of his pride according to Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-18. Jesus states that he saw Heilil fall from heaven like lightning in Luke 10:18. Shemhazai (meaning 'heaven-seizer') is alternately described as being suspended like a star between heaven and earth and being hurled to Sheol according to some Jewish traditions. This would make his name, 'infamous rebellion', rather fitting since he was originally the most powerful angel in heaven but then he sinned by rebelling against God.
[edit] Sins of Samyaza and his associates
In the Book of Enoch he is portrayed as the leader of a band of angels called the grigori that are consumed with lust for mortal women and become Fallen Angels.
"3. And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: 'I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin. 4. And they all answered him and said: 'Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.' 5. Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it." - Chapter 6, Verse 3-5."
A full listing of the leaders of the group can be found on the 1 Enoch page. Semjâzâ convinced several other Grigori to join him in fornicating with women as a result he and the other sinful Grigori begot giant offspring (in Genesis called Nephilim or 'fallen ones' in Hebrew) that dominated and feasted upon humans during the days of Enoch. The Watchers' other sin was to teach humans various creative art especially Azâzêl's who taught the secrets of war brought down the wrath of God.
God commanded the angel Gabriel to cause the Giants to wage Civil War:
"And to Gabriel said the Lord: 'Proceed against the bastards and the reprobates, and against the children of fornication: and destroy [the children of fornication and] the children of the Watchers from amongst men [and cause them to go forth]: send them one against the other that they may destroy each other in battle: for length of days shall they not have." - Chapter 10, Verse 9
The judgement of the associates of Shemyazaz is described in Chapter 10 verse 12-14 of the Book of Enoch.
"11. And the Lord said unto Michael: 'Go, bind Semjâzâ and his associates who have united themselves with women so as to have defiled themselves with them in all their uncleanness. 12. And when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the destruction of their beloved ones, bind them fast for seventy generations in the valleys of the earth, till the day of their judgement and of their consummation, till the judgement that is for ever and ever is consummated. 13. In those days they shall be led off to the abyss of fire: 〈and〉 to the torment and the prison in which they shall be confined for ever. And whosoever shall be condemned and destroyed will from thenceforth be bound together with them to the end of all generations." - Chapter 10, Verses 11-14
After the destruction of the Giants, God caused the Great Flood (Noah's flood) to wipe out the humans who had become corrupted. For a more detailed treatment please see the Book of Enoch page.
[edit] Samyaza in Popular Culture
Samyaza appears in the RPG Final Fantasy XII as the Esper Shemhazai. Shemhazai is a female horse-like being who controls the souls of the dead, created in opposition to Igeyorhm the Martyr. Thought she once served the gods as a guardian, she plays a role similar to that of Samyaza in revealing to the rebellious Esper Ultima the weaknesses of the gods before attacking the people.
Samyaza or 'Shemyaza' also appears in Storm Constantine's Grigori Trilogy, as the primary villian who finds redemption. He first appears as a Grigori paraiah who terrorizes the underground Grigori society by leaving a trail of highly public murders in his wake. He eventually redeems himself and consequently regains the memory of his previous incarnations. He goes on to fight an epic battle with the serpent Tiamat.
Samyaza also appeared as a prime antagonist in the book series Dragons In Our Midst.
Samyaza is also the name of an experimental side project from Casablanca, Morocco.
[edit] Notes
The quotes are taken from a revised text of Archbishop R.H. Charles' translation, which is more accurate than the present Ethiopian text. The link to which is on the 1 Enoch page.
