Gabriel
Also called Jibra'il, Gabrail, Sidna Djebril, Angel of Fire.
Gabriel is the announcing archangel of Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition, the messenger who delivers what has been decided and, in several strands, the one who will sound the final trumpet.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Biblical folkloreIslamic mythology
- Region
- Middle East (place of origin)
- Trait family
- The Child-Frighteners
- Symbols
- Angel
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Angel is image-domain An angel is a messenger of supernatural revelation, ranked in nine choirs and morally ambiguous, holding the power to save and to annihilate alike.
why
He is variously the angel of death for particular peoples, the recorder, and the one who blows the trumpet that ends the age — though that last office is assigned to different angels in different sources and should not be treated as settled.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Behaviour
- Messenger between mortal and divine realms
why
Gabriel appears across three related traditions as the archangel whose work is announcement.
- Delivers message then vanishes
why
In art this produces a figure of poise rather than power, usually shown arriving, and the encounters are typically frightening to those on the receiving end despite his bringing news that is often good.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Death carries
3 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
- Threshold carries
3 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
- Wise Old Man carries
3 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
- Earth meets
3 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
- Father meets
3 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.