(urth) Tzadkiel's form

[james ford]

I was always under the assumption that the tale of the naviscaput was about
Abaia. The implication of Tzadkiel and the beasts on Urth sharing a common
origin is great and well worth looking into. Why would these monsters, as
possible offshoots of the Hierogrammates, work against the coming of the
New Sun? What caused the schism? Or is it really as simple as the monsters
being "fallen" versions of Tzadkiel?
 On Sep 11, 2014 12:58 PM, "Lee" <severiansola at hotmail.com> wrote:

> >Jeff Wilson:
> >Remember Tzadkiel's story that the original exalted human race built his
> >from animals, so an association with animals and beastmen and apes as
> >the most humanlike of animals is not inappropriate for Yesodis.
>
>
> Yet I think it should be remembered that one of the primates Severian
>
> encounters (on the Ship) ends up BEING Tzadkiel.  Does this provide a link
>
> between Inire and Tzadkiel? I think so, along with others links, such as
>
> the type of space-time portals they both use.
>
>
> Biblical angels are often described as having animal characteristics though
>
> fallen angels or demons are even more likely to have bestial features.
>
>
> On the Ship, we see Tzadkiel range in size and form from tiny tinker bell
> and
>
> ball of fur to a giant winged male humanoid and even larger winged female
>
> humanoid. I think the final stage in this progression is  seen by Severian
> in the
>
> mirror book found in the Secret House. This Tzadkiel is so large Severian
> thinks
>
> planet Urth would be like a dust mote caught in the wind of its wings.
>
>
> I think it is clear such a being cannot be biological in the sense we
> understand
>
> it. There are the problems of existing unprotected in the void which have
> been
>
> discussed for Inhumi. We must wonder what it could breathe and maybe even
>
> more fantastically, what such a being could eat. (the amusing topic of
> angel
>
> poop is actually relevant also).
>
>
> Given the lack of traditional biology of that version of Tzadkiel, I have
> recently been
>
> considering that we see him/her in another form also. The first time
> Severian hears
>
> Tzadkiel's voice it seems to emanate from everywhere in the Ship. There is
> the odd
>
> ability for the Ship to adjust portions of its internal conditions to the
> biology of its
>
> current resident.
>
>
> I wondered what the significance of the Ship's unusual seven-sided
> structure might
>
> be. Some random Googling reminded me that there are seven arch-angels,
> Tzadkiel
>
> being one of them.  The Ship's multiple sails might in some way be
> represented in
>
> an angel's multiple sets of wings.
>
>
> I think it is possible that Wolfe meant the Ship to actually be a form of
> Tzadkiel. I
>
> find support for this idea in the story of the Naviscaput, in which
> another very large
>
> being is mistaken for, or actually is partially a ship.
>
>
> I think something similar happens in On Blue's Waters, when Horn sees the
> black "pirate
>
> ship" chasing him which later seems as though it must be the source of
> Seawrack. If this
>
> "ship" were really the gigantic Mother creature in the form of a boat it
> would explain the
>
> loss of Seawrack's arm and demonstrate the relationship between The Mother
> and Seawrack
>
> as the budding process we see elsewhere in the Sun Series.
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