Samael

Samael is an important figure in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore, a figure who is accuser, seducer, and destroyer. Legends referring to Satan refer equally to him, such that Samael is often taken to be the true or angelic name of the Devil, as opposed to the epithet Lucifer or the job title Satan (Adversary).

Samael is etymologized as "the venom of God," since he is sometimes identified with the Angel of death. But the name could also be derived from that of the Syrian god Shemal[?].

---

Samael is the name of a black metal band.

---

External Links

• The Jewish Encyclopedia entry on Samael (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=106&letter=S)