The Mythology of Supernatural

by Nathan Robert Brown

  Regardless of what their powers are, the abilities of all of Azazel’s special children manifest when they are twenty-two years of age. The number 22 has a plethora of interesting significances, any of which could be the reason the creators of Supernatural chose this as the age at which their powers manifest.

  In the Hebraic numerological system gematria, which assigns numerical values to certain words and vice versa, the number 22 translates as Kaph-Bet, which (depending on how one interprets the symbols) could mean something like either “palm house” or “with the palm.” The use of the number 22 in this regard may be a reference to how the most favored one of Azazel’s “special children,” namely Sam Winchester, sticks out his hand with his palm turned at his opponent when using his powers.

  Here are some other interesting facts about the number 22 that could explain this use of the age of twenty-two for Azazel’s children:

  • The apocalyptic book of Revelation contains twenty-two chapters.

  • In Kabala, the two Sephiroth (opposing groups of ten entities, one made up of angels and the other of demons/fallen angels) are separated by twenty-two paths.

  • The Hebrew alphabet has twenty-two letters.

  • All twenty-two Hebrew letters are used in Psalm 118:22: “The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”

  • There are twenty-two cards in a Tarot deck.

  • In numerology, where numbers have unique symbolic significances, the number 22 is the master number, called the spiritual master or master builder.

  SUPERNATURAL FACTS

  Azazel’s “special children” were gathered in Cold Oak, South Dakota, which is, according to Sam, “the most haunted place in America.” But don’t plan a road trip to Cold Oak, because you won’t find it: it doesn’t exist.

  Azazel’s special children in Supernatural may also have origins in the book of Enoch. As already discussed, Azazel (along with a number of other angels) is said to have sired children with human women. The offspring of these unions were called Nephilim, a race of powerful and violent “giants” who wreaked havoc upon humankind. When Azazel and the other Grigori who corrupted humankind were finally punished, the Lord of Light ordered the loyal angels to wipe out the Nephilim. Since these beings had the blood of angels, perhaps some of them were able to survive this violent angelic persecution. If this was the case, then it might explain why only people of certain bloodlines are said to be able to serve as angelic vessels in Supernatural. The body of someone with Nephilim blood, literally making them “part angel,” would likely be best suited for withstanding the immense stress of containing a powerful angel (or fallen angel, in Sam’s case).

  PICASSO WITH A RAZOR: ALASTAIR

  The Supernatural character Alastair likely originated not in biblical lore, but in Greek myths. Originally, the word alastor was used to describe an act of justified vengeance. Eventually, however, the idea was personified and become the name of a dark and menacing figure similar to Furies (winged creatures who carried out violent justice in Greek and Roman mythology). This personification of ideas is actually not that uncommon in the realm of world mythology.

  So who was Alastor? According to an 1863 demonological text by Collin de Plancy, Dictionnaire Infernal, Alastor is Hell’s chief executioner (which makes you wonder—if people in Hell are already dead, then who is Alastor executing?). The text also says that Alastor’s most dominant trait is his sadism. Torturing and killing are not just a job to Alastor. He revels in his work.

  In verses 66–68 of this text, Collin de Plancy has this to say about the origins of Alastor, and his role as the “Nemesis,” or an agent of justified vengeance:

  In the infernal hierarchy, he is the Nemesis. The ancients called evil spirits “alastores.” Plutarch says that Cicero hated Augustus so much that he conceived of a plan to kill himself outside Augustus’ foyer, in order to become his alastor.

  The above mention of suicide is likely related to a common ancient belief that the spirits of those who commit suicide risk being transformed into demons. Another mythical element to the role of Alastair will be discussed in chapter 5.

  HELLHOUNDS

  I bet they could hump the crap out of your leg . . . What? They could!

  —DEAN WINCHESTER, “CROSSROAD BLUES” (2-8)

  First things first, hellhounds are not to be confused with the mythical concept of “black hounds.” Whereas hellhounds are creatures that drag souls to the underworld (and keep them there), black hounds are death omens, primarily found in Anglo-Saxon folklore. Hellhounds are nothing new, of course. The connection between big, scary dogs and the dark horror of the underworld has been around since ancient times.

  The most well-known mythical mutt to grace the gates of the underworld is the monstrous Greek creature known as Cerberus. More monster than dog, he had three heads (though some earlier texts, such as Hesiod’s Theogony, describe Cerberus as having as many as fifty heads), a dragon’s tail, and fur across his neck and upper back that was made of snakes. The creature was the offspring of two very powerful Titans, Typhon and Echidna (in the Greek mythos, Echidna is widely considered the mother of all monsters). Considering all this, it is no wonder that the death god Hades chose to keep Cerberus as the guard dog of the underworld. Once a person had paid the underworld ferryman Charon with coins placed on the eyes of the dead for this purpose and was taken across the river Styx, however, there was still one more fee to pay.

  Cerebus would tear apart any soul that attempted to pass him, whether going out or coming in. Luckily for these departed souls, Cerberus appears to have had a sweet tooth. For this reason, the dead were interred with honey-soaked cakes, or “sops,” to toss to Cerberus so that he would let them pass. This led to the saying “Sop for Cerberus,” whose meaning is akin to the expression “Time to pay the piper.”

  Eventually, the Greek hero Herakles (or Hercules) dragged Cerberus from the underworld as the last of his legendary Twelve Labors. However, Hades only allowed the hero to do so on two conditions: (1) that he used no weapons and (2) that he returned Cerberus to Hades once he’d shown the dog as proof he’d completed the task. As crazy as it sounds, Herakles accomplished the task barehanded, and even brought the monstrous mutt back once he’d plopped it at the feet of the terrified douche-of-a-king named Eurystheus as proof that he’d finished his final task. Believe it or not, Cerberus is the only monster to ever cross paths with Herakles and live to tell the tale (that is, of course, if the thing could talk . . . which would just be creepy).

  Cerberus is not the only hellhound of the mythical tradition. In Egyptian myths, the death god Anubis had the black head of a dog and was aided by a monster called Ammit, which had the torso and legs of a hippopotamus and the head of a crocodile (as if normal hippos and crocs weren’t bad enough, right?). In the early Vedic tradition, the death god Yama kept two dogs, Syama the Black and Sabala the Spotted, to bring and hold souls in the Purgatory-like afterlife called Naraka. Even the Norse god Odin (see chapter 9) kept a pair of wolves, Geri and Freki. During times of war, the two ravenous canines ran through the lands in order to chase down cowards, war profiteers, and dishonorable leaders, whom they quickly and violently ripped to pieces, thus giving their victims the nasty ends that were (to the Norse, at least) befitting of their actions.

  CREEPY KIDS: THE ACHERI

  Gimme a minute . . . I’m still working through “demons are real.”

  —ANDY, “ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE: PART 1” (2-21)

  An Acheri has appeared only once in Supernatural, during the episode “All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 1” (2-21). This is probably because the Acheri are not your typical, run-of-the-mill Judeo-Christian demons. Many early sources referred to the Acheri as being of “Indian” origin, which led newer sources to mistakenly claim that they were part of the Hindu mythical tradition, but the Acheri actually have their origins in Native American folklore. According to most of the available sources, an Acheri is an evil spirit that disguises itself as a child
(almost always a young girl) and uses this ruse to infiltrate villages. Once in a village, the Acheri spreads diseases among the people.

  It seems that the Acheri have a hard time maintaining their disguises in daylight, so during the day they hide, preferably near the tops of mountains. As night falls, however, they descend into nearby villages to plague mortals. More often than not, they will target the children of a village first. Whenever a child in a village fell seriously ill, it was generally blamed on an Acheri. It was said that an Acheri had “cast a shadow” upon the child. The lore also says that there is at least one way to protect oneself from the attacks of an Acheri. For some reason, an Acheri will not attack anyone who is wearing the color red anywhere on their clothing or body. This led to a practice whereby mothers began tying a red thread or scarf around the necks of their children in order to protect them from the Acheri.

  As has been said, where there is darkness there must be light. And, standing in opposition to the agents of evil are the agents of good. In the Judeo-Christian traditions, these shining beacons of righteousness are commonly referred to as angels.

  4

  ANGELS . . . THEY SMITE FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER

  Any fan of Supernatural is familiar with the angel Castiel, who gripped Dean tightly and dragged him up from the depths of Hell. Castiel is undoubtedly one of the strongest allies the Winchester brothers have. Of course, this does not mean that Sam and Dean are on 100 percent friendly terms with the other members of the angelic ranks. In fact, the angels of Supernatural often prove as problematic to the Winchesters as demons. As the creators of Supernatural have done with their portrayals of demons, they have developed a unique spin on the ancient mythos of angelology.

  What are angels, exactly? Generically speaking, they could be defined as a high order of spiritual entities. No one can say for certain just how long angels have been around, but it is safe to say that they are far older than the human race. Most of the available angelic lore supports the idea that angels are a creation of God, and were brought into existence long before God created humankind. In comparison to angels, humans are often seen as being somewhat flawed.

  ANGELIC ORDERS

  In Judeo-Christian mythology, there exist a number of primary angelic orders. Of course, the names and numbers of these orders can differ from one tradition to the next, so this list is in no way meant to be definitive:

  • Metatron: This is the title of a high-ranking angel who acts as the “voice of God.”

  • Grigori: These are the Watchers, many of whom the book of Enoch describes as having been cast from Heaven.

  • Archangels: This title is held by seven of the most powerful warrior angels.

  • Seraphim: A seraph is an angel belonging to this order, meaning “burning ones.” They are commonly portrayed as having six wings and are often said to be the angelic attendants of God.

  • Cherubim: The cherubim are led by the angel Kerubiel and are often tasked with guarding certain forbidden sites or objects, such as Eden after humanity’s expulsion. Catholicism considers cherubim to be the second-highest angelic order.

  CASTIEL: ANGEL OF SOLITUDE

  I’m an angel of the Lord.

  —CASTIEL, “LAZARUS RISING” (4-1)

  The angel Castiel has been a regular figure of the Supernatural series ever since the concept of angels was first introduced into the mythos during the premier of season 4. Up until Castiel came on the scene, the closest the Winchester brothers had come to dealing with an angel was during season 2, episode 13, “Houses of the

  SUPERNATURAL FACTS

  “Houses of the Holy” is not just the title of a Supernatural episode. The title of this episode actually comes from a song by legendary rock band Led Zeppelin (of which Dean is undoubtedly a fan). This is not the only Supernatural episode to take its title from a Led Zeppelin song. The title of the episode “The Song Remains the Same” (5-13) is also the title of a Led Zeppelin song, album, and even concert film.

  Holy,” when they encountered the misguided rogue spirit of a dead priest who believed that he had become an avenging angel.

  Having learned of humankind’s darkest deeds and sinful nature while performing his confessional duties, the late priest’s spirit would appear to the living and inspire them to kill a number of “evil people,” all of whom were members of his own parish when he was alive. Needless to say, this priest was certainly not an angel. The case turned out to be just another angry spirit that needed “gank-ing.”

  This episode is also of note because we learn that at this time Dean does not believe in the existence of angels. In fact, Dean turns out to be somewhat on the fence as to whether or not he even believes there is a God. Dean tells Sam, “There’s no higher power. There’s no God. I mean, there’s just chaos, and violence, and random unpredictable evil that comes out of nowhere and rips you to shreds.” Regardless of Dean’s misgivings on the existence of a divine power, after his impressive first encounter with Castiel he at least believes in angels (though he’s still not exactly God’s biggest fan). Of course, if an angel personally grabs you by the shoulder, forcibly drags you out of the depths of Hell, and leaves behind the very obvious mark of his palm print on your flesh, you kind of have to believe in angels, don’t you?

  Of all the angels in Supernatural, Castiel is undoubtedly the most popular with fans of the show. So perhaps it should not be surprising that there has been a lot of Internet chatter regarding just about everything having to do with Castiel—his name, his angelic title, you name it. Most of the Internet data available about Castiel, however, ranges from inaccurate to wrong to just plain made up.

  At some point, someone somewhere posted one very misleading piece of information that claimed there was an angel Castiel in the Judaic tradition, who was an “angel of Thursday.” Supernatural had traditionally aired on Thursdays until season 6, so fans began reposting on various fan-based websites that Castiel’s name was a reference to the show’s airtime. And somewhat like a tulpa, so many people now believe it that it’s almost come to be seen as fact.

  But things aren’t quite that simple. Technically speaking, there is no angel named Castiel in the angelology of the Judeo-Christian tradition. More than likely, the creators of Supernatural altered the name of the angel Cassiel, which is the Latinized form of the Hebrew name of the angel Kafziel. Kafziel roughly translates as “God’s speed” or “My speed is God.”

  In the traditions of both Enochian magic and Kabala mysticism, there are angels who are given specific domain over certain hours of each day of the week. If a person was looking at the angels who have domain over the hours of Thursday, Cassiel would be listed among them. But while it is true that Cassiel is one of the angels given domain over certain hours of every Thursday, he is also (depending on the time of day) technically an angel of almost every other day of the week as well.

  Cassiel would seem to fit with the personality of the Castiel from Supernatural in that he is said to be the angel of temperance, solitude, and tears (hence Castiel’s rather bland personality, by Winchester standards). When Castiel plans to trap and interrogate the archangel Raphael in the episode “Free to Be You and Me” (5-3), the mild-mannered angel reveals to Dean that he does not believe he’ll survive the encounter with his former angelic comrade. When Dean asks what he plans to do with his last night on Earth, Castiel replies, “I just thought I would sit here quietly.” This would certainly seem to fit the profile for an angel of temperance and solitude. Castiel is nothing if not calm, steadfast, and patient. That is, until the most recent war in Heaven broke out after the conclusion of season 5. Lately, Castiel has been a little more stressed than is his usual.

  Fans of Supernatural also learned in “Free to Be You and Me” that Castiel is a virgin. However, it is reasonable to assume that most, if not all, of Heaven’s angels are virgins considering that, as already discussed in chapter 3, Enoch wrote that many of the fallen angels were cast down from grace because they had sex with hu
man women.

  Despite the fact that the Castiel of Supernatural chooses to come to Earth to intervene on Dean’s behalf, this is not common of him in terms of the angel’s mythological traditions. Mythologically speaking, Cassiel is unique among the angels in the sense that he rarely, if ever, intervenes in the affairs of humans (which certainly explains why Castiel is frequently portrayed on the show as being completely unfamiliar with human behavior).

  In many traditions, Cassiel is said to be one of the angelic princes of the Powers. The “Powers” were the first rank of angels created by God, so you know the guy has been around for quite a while. He has dominion over the planet Saturn, and from this planet Cassiel performs his duty as a watcher or guardian angel. While certain mystical traditions have loosely associated Cassiel with the seven archangels, he is not generally considered to be among their ranks. In ancient times, he was the angel tasked with presiding over the funerary rites of kings. As far as Cassiel’s angelic role is concerned, he is said to be the patron angel of tears and solitude. He comes to those who find themselves standing alone or overcome with despair, both of which certainly apply to Sam and Dean.