RO

The Archangel Michael

Archangels belong, according to the Christian angelology, to the last but one of the nine celestial orders.

The Archangel Michael fulfills different roles and is depicted in many postures but the standard iconography represents him as a winged military saint who fights against the Evil embodied in dragon. According to the Book of Revelation, 12:7-9, Michael leads God's armies against Satan's forces. He is depicted in human form, with  young, beautiful, slightly feminine traits, with long hair spread over the shoulders. The Archangel is frequently clad in a Roman military attire, wearing a breastplate with pectorals, a balteus and  military Byzantine boots. He is armed with a sword. He may also wear a tunic and a chiton and is holding a spear or the globus terrarum.