NA'ARIRIEL YHWH-An angel appearing in the Third Book of Enoch and ranked as one of the mighty princes of heaven. It is said that when the angel prince Atrugiel beholds him, he removes his crown and falls prostrate; likewise, when Na'aririel see Sasnigiel, he removes his crown and falls prostrate.

NABU-See Nebo.

NAGRASAGIEL-See Nasragiel.

NAIRYO SANGHA-An angel who, with the angels Kipod and Nasragiel, stands as one of the guardian princes of the upper gates of hell or Gehenna (Gehinnon). In Persian lore this angelic being is honored as a trusted servant of the great Persian deity Ahura Mazda.

NAKIR-A fearsome angel, described in Islamic lore as black in color and with piercing blue eyes, who labors with his fellow angel Munkar to test the recently deceased as to their worthiness to enter paradise after the Day of Judgment. (For details, see under Munkar and Nakir.)

NASARGIEL-See Nasragiel.

NASRAGIEL-Also Nagrasagiel and Nasargiel, an angel who, with Kipod and Nairyo Sangha, serves as a guardian prince of the upper gate of hell or Gehenna. Nasragiel is often described as possessing a fearsome head of a lion. He is also mentioned in Jewish lore as having acted as a guide to the underworld when the great Lawgiver, Moses, paid a visit.

NATHANIEL-Also Nathanael, Xathanael, and Zathael, an angel whose name means "gift of God" and who has a rather varied portfolio. He is best known as an angel of fire. In this capacity he saved seven Israelites from the flames when they were sentenced to death by the Israeli king Jair, who was a follower of the pagan deity Baal. In other legends Nathaniel is honored as the sixth angel to be created by God and as a guardian or patron angel of the sixth hour. Still other tales name him as one of the three angels who have a special patronage over all things hidden, mysterious, or arcane.

NATIONS, ANGELS OF THE-For the patron angels of nations, see under Guardian angels.

NATIVITY, ANGELS OF THE-The angels who were sent down from heaven to announce and celebrate the birth of Christ in the town of Bethlehem, an event recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke. The angels were then said to have gone back into heaven. It is unclear how many angels there might have been, but the host was certainly sufficient to impress upon the shepherds that something momentous had taken place.
NAYA'IL-Another name for the angel Lawidh, who served as the guide to the Islamic (Sufi) holy man Abu Yazid when he visited heaven. According to legend, the angel offered to Abu an incredible realm for him to rule alone. This offer was rejected by the Sufi leader because he perceived it to be a test of his devotion to the Lord. (See also Lawidh for other details.)

NEBO-Also Nabu and Nabo, an angelic being found in the traditions of the Babylonians and among the Chaldaeans a god of wisdom and learning: he is considered by scholars to be predecessor or foreshadowing of the angel found in later Judaeo-Christian custops. Nebo is one of the so-called sukallin, the spirit messengers of the Sumerian and Babylonian deities, the clear forerunners of the angels, especially as they were to appear in Biblical custop. Nebo is especially so in this sense, for just as the Bible's Old Testament is replete with the angels of the Lord (or angels of God), so does this being serve as a messenger and servant to the god Marduk, possessing the name "minister of Marduk." He served in other capacities, such as the representative of the gods in the affairs of mortals and as the keeper of the Book of Fate, the mighty topb containing the destinies of all living things.

NEFILIM-See Nephilim.

NEPHILIM-Also the nefilim, the name given in Jewish or Hebrew legend for the offspring sired by the union of mortal women with the fallen angels, although at times it is also understood to denote the fallen angels themselves and their semidivine children. The nephilim, having angelic or divine blood coursing through their veins, are said to have been giants, described in the Old Testament Book of Genesis as "the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown."

NINE ANGELS-The collective name given to the ruling princes of the nine accepted orders of the angels, the nine choirs of the celestial hierarchy. The exact names of the nine angels vary according to the many lists of the reining angels and of the assorted choirs. (For details on the heads of the choirs, see under Princes, Angelic.) The apocryphal Gospel of Bartholomew, written in the third century and full of interesting, if not peculiar, angel lore, mentions a group of nine angels who, according to the demon Beliar (who is bound by 660 angels and fiery chains and compelled to answer the questions of Bartholomew), "run together throughthe heavenly and earthly regions...Together they fly through the regions of heaven, of earth, and the underworld." The nine angels are listed as Chalkatura, Mermeoth, Onomatath, Duth, Nephonos, Hoethra, Melioth, Charuth, and Graphathas.

NISROCH-Also Nisroc originally, a deity worshiped among the Assyrians who was later ranked by Milton among the angels and in the lore of demons as one of the fallen spirits. He was also possibly once one of the chiefs of the angelic choir of principalities. As was written in the Old Testament book 2 Kings (19:37). Nisroch is also found in demonic legend as a member of the dark brethren of hell. His position there is rather unique. He serves as the chef of hell, preparing the fell repasts enjoyed by the ruling princes of the underworld. Nisroch's specialty is to include generous helpings of the fruit of the forbidden tree in all his dishes.

NOGAHEL-An angel mentioned in the occult work Three Books of Occult Philosophy by the famous mystic and occultist Cornelius Heinrich Agrippa von Nettesheim (d. 1535). According to Agrippa, Neogahel belongs to the truly fortunate angels who stand ever before the throne of God and behold the very face of the Lord.

NURIEL-A prominent angel in Jewish lore, Nuriel is honored as being one of the tallest of all beings in heaven, declared to be three hundred parasangs tall (a measurement used among the Persians and accepted as being around three and a half miles). Nuriel is also supported by fifty myriads of angels said to have been formed out of fire and water. Associated with these angels is Nuriel's post as the angel responsible for hailstorms. A resident of the second heaven, he supposedly met Moses when the great lawgiver journeyed to heaven.

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