Guardians of the Gate: Angelic Vice Regency in Late Antiquity

by Nathaniel Deutsch

This exploration of the phenomenon of angelic vice regency in Late Antiquity compares figures from Judaism, Mandaeism, and Gnosticism. The first part of the book is devoted to the question of mediation in Late Antiquity and to the role of exegesis in the formation of vice regent myths. The second part of the book examines the Jewish figures Metatron and Akatriel, the Mandaean figure Abathur, and the Gnostic figure Sabaoth. After a final chapter on the types of communities which may have produced these myths, the volume concludes with appendices which briefly examine Christian, Muslim, and … read moreHermetic traditions.
This volume is especially helpful to those interested in the connections between late antique mythologies and in particular the many parallels between Jewish mysticism and Mandaeism.

182 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Nathaniel Deutsch is a professor at The University of California, Santa Cruz, where he is also the Co-Director of the Center for Jewish Studies and the Director of the Institute for Humanities Research.

Reviews

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently Enoch became Metatron, according to Judaism’s Kabbalah type end. At least I think it was in Kabbalah from what I recall, though there were also references from the Mishnah and the Talmud. Also got into the Mandaean influences on the Old Testament