AZAZEL / MELEK TAUS

 

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AZAZEL (uh-ZAY-zuhl or az-UH-zehl)

Azazel - wearing a headdress of goat hide over his long, dreded hair - the
Original Alchemist is also associated with Melek Taus of the Yezidi.
Melek Taus is also known as The Peacock Angel, hence the peacock feather. In
the Islamic scheme of things, he is called Iblis or Eblis (the Calumniator or the
Liar), and is considered to be the Prince of Darkness, himself. Azazel, by
whatever name he might be called, is also often characterized as a 'Sovereign of
the World' - qabalistically being a reflection in the Kingdom of Malkuth, of God in
Kether. In African Islamic traditions, he is known as Zeraili, the angel of death. The
thorny acacia bush is sacred to Azazel, according to Arab tribes. His name is
pre-Jewish and pre-Islamic. Some speculate that he may have been an early Semitic
goat god whose worship later became repulsive to the Jewish and Islamic faiths. Angra
Mainyu is Azazel's Zoroastrian counterpart. Andrew Collins, of "From theAshes
of Angels" fame, postulates that Azazel was most likely a powerful goat-shaman.

Whatever he was, he was the Master of Metals and Minerals. In "Genesis of the
Grail Kings", Laurence Gardner says this: "It is said in Enoch that Azazel made
known to men 'all the metals, and the art of working them...and the use of
antimony' (otherwise known as stibium [Sb] Element No. 51). This is an
essential ingredient of the preparatory alchemical process when producing
the Philosopher's Stone. In the ancient Arab world antimony was called kuhl
(or kohl). The related word, 'alcohol' stems from the Arabic al-kuhul, the
highly refined Philosophical Mercury prepared from spirits of wine rectified
over antimony" [which is, btw, extremely poisonous and related to arsenic].

According to Sir Roger Bacon, when processed in vitriol (a potent cocktail
of Alum, Ammonium Chloride, Sodium Nitrate or saltpetre, and a few
other choice materials) the antimony - a white to silver colored ore - will be
reduced to a 'noble red oil'. "Yes, many say, that when one prepares Stibium
to a glass, then the evil volatile Sulphur will be gone, and the Oil, which may
be prepared from the glass, would be a very fixed oil, and would then truly
give an ingress and Medicine of imperfect metals to perfection." Thus, the
color red is associated with Azazel as the Master of this most critical alchemical
element.. According to traditions in the Middle East, the clay of the earth is red
and from it was made man. As the Sovereign of the World of Man,
red is again associated with him.

It is interesting that Enoch notes the use of antimony for the purposes of
'beautifying the eyelids', when this sulphide clearly has much more important
uses and properties. It is as if we were left a clue that Azazel was an alchemist
by the mere mention of the fact that part of his mastery was over this particular
element. Metallurgy is also related to alchemy in that many metals and metallic
salts are used in these most ancient arts. The alchemist must forge his gold from
basal leads in fire, the same as a smith who produces weapons, goblets, bowls,
shields, mirrors and jewelry from ores. Azazel has also been identified with
Tubal-Cain, Vulcan, and Thoth due to his mastery of metals and great knowledge.

Antimony is one of these basal leads alchemists use and is often refered to as
the White Lead. The alchemical symbols for antimony are:

These and other alchemical symbols are painted on his robe.

The following is the Melek Taus legend from "From the Ashes of Angels":

"Yet chief among the Yezidi angels was a unique and very important figure
indeed. His name was, and still is (for the Yezidis still exist), Melek Taus,
the Peacock Angel. He corresponds with the Judeo-Christian concept of
the Evil One - Satan or Lucifer - but this association hardly does him justice,
for Melek Taus is seen as a supreme being, with authority over worldly affairs.
To these people he was the creator of the material world, which he made from
the scattered pieces of an original cosmic egg, or pearl, inside which his spirit
had previously resided.

"According to one Yezidi text known as the Mes'haf i Resh, or 'the Black Book'
- the contents of which were entirely unknown to Europeans in Layard's time -
it reveals that:

In the beginning God (Kurdish Khuda) created the White Pearl out of his
most precious Essence; and He created a bird named Anfar. And He placed
the pearl upon its back, and dwelt thereon forty thousand years. On the first
day [of creation], Sunday, He created an angel called Azazil, which is Melek
Taus, the chief of all [angels]." ~ pg. 170 'The Peacock Angel'.

The above explains the presence of the pearl in his hand. I also wanted to use
the pearl, because it is a symbol of wisdom and perfection.

I hope you've enjoyed this little excursion into the most complex entity in the
pantheon of the Igigi/Grigori.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY THEORY ON WHY
AZAZEL IS KNOWN AS THE 'PEACOCK ANGEL'

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT:

HERE/NOW ~ A brand new expanded Watchers section with many
NEW ARTICLES!! This page will be included and the Azazel URLs will
not be changed. Also, I will soon have an expanded section of ancient texts
or links to texts. These are available on the main Menu page under the
Nephilim Library section.

 

© R. Navarro, 2003. All rights reserved