CryptoAngels: Metatron
The third in a series of posts about the Archangels of the CryptoAngels project and their inspirations.
Owned by Mariner, Metatron is another great King of Heaven. Accompanied by the mighty lion Leo, he is an active general, tasked with fortifying, guarding, and defending the Borderlands of Heaven against the forces of the Dark. In Metatron’s description, we learn of the Dawn War – the initial battle of Creation, where the boundaries of Heaven and the Worlds were established and the conflict between the powers of the Dark and the Light was set in motion.
Metatron’s fortress is Castle Striving. Its name, appearance, and position on a crag are inspired by Stirling Castle in Scotland, the venue of Trevor’s first Castle Party. The word Stirling is thought by some to be derived from Striveling, meaning ‘place of conflict’ in Old English. The standard of the Borderlands – its banner – is ‘Or, a lion rampant Gules’. In heraldic terminology that means a red lion rearing on its hind legs against a gold background. It echoes the heraldry of the coat of arms of Scotland, as does the motto ‘In Defens’.
The series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin (televised as Game of Thrones) was an inspiration for the chain of fortresses that guard Heaven, although Metatron’s defences are much better garrisoned than the keeps along the Wall in those books.
