CryptoAngels: Selaphiel

The fifth in a series of posts about the Archangels of the CryptoAngels project and their inspirations.

Caeruleus is a liminal realm, separating the true world of Heaven from the many worlds of the Multiverse that reflect and refract its radiance. Owned by Cryptui, Selaphiel is king of these waters – he is inspired by the sea gods of mythology, such as Poseidon and Neptune. Just as the blue whale is the largest animal ever known to have existed, Selaphiel is the largest of the Archangels. His crossbow is an unusual weapon for a sea king, but in reality crossbows can be used effectively underwater – and Selaphiel’s has extra angelic power. His sea monster mount Cetus draws inspiration from various sea monster legends – the kraken of Scandinavia, the biblical Leviathan, and especially his namesake in Greek mythology, whom Perseus slew to rescue Andromeda.

In Selaphiel’s description we meet the aquatic troops of the Light: the fish, dolphins, whales, and seahorse-mounted merfolk. Mermaids and mermen can be found in the legends of many cultures around the world, such as the kulullû of Mesopotamia and the sirens of Greece. Legends of countries and cities lost to the sea can also be found throughout the world – Selaphiel’s realm of Caeruleus is the origin of these. Caeruleus is the Latin word for blue – Selaphiel’s signature colour and that of the celestial waters.