angel of death

[ivanhowe]

When I saw this photo of a KIA American soldier, I felt sorrow. I wanted to send him to paradise and looked for an Angel of Death to lead him there. I was hoping to find a glorious masculine fighter like Michael or even a saint like St. Sebastian. But, death is represented universally as a horrible figure. I don't like the skeleton grasping this poor boy, but it was the only way I could add to the tragedy of his death.
Wouldn't you think with so many nations claiming God on their side, that the angel of death would be more welcoming?In another thread "Cemetary Art" I had asked for such a representation, but there aren't that many. So, I am requesting the artists here to donate their conceptions of the Angel of Death you would want to go with.

 

[ivanhowe]

This young Syrian is between heaven and earth. The angel of death here is a cherub because such a young innocent doesn't deserve a threatening welcome to the gates of paradise. The hands of man are trying to stop the flow of blood, but maybe the hand of Someone else knows better.

 

[PiercedChest]

I'd gladly go with one of these:


and this is the most erotic soul escort I know:

 

[KiltedSoldier]

I found this Angel taking a slain young soldier to the afterlife - a Valkyrie and a trip to Valhalla would be fine for me.

 

[PiercedChest]

View attachment 45776

Beautiful.

 

[ivanhowe]

This manip is dedicated to kilted soldier. Thank you for my rediscovering the works of Daniel Chester French. As a New Englander, I am familiar with his works, but I had missed this one. I would love to know the background of this work. Perhaps you recognize the green hills of Scotland and maybe, heaven floats above your heads, hearts, and hearths. I have never seen a work so beautiful.

 

[ivanhowe]

I couldn't let that work of art go without research. St Paul's school- a private school paid Mr. French $50,000 for this remembrance in their chapel of the graduates of that school who died in WWI. I have a book"Memoirs of the Harvard dead". It must have been the thing in those thoughtful days.While the moving wall is tear provoking, something more elaborate should have been done. Iraq and Afghanistan- what??? I thank DC French for the words above, my point as well. -Millions for defense and rebuilding etc, but not a cent for..."

 

[KiltedSoldier]

I saw that a school had paid for the monument, many schools did that to remember their war dead heroes, being a military school the one I went to has plenty of space for more names. It is comforting to see the soul of the fallen warrior being carried to heaven / tir nan og / valhalla where the sting of military death will be soothed.

 

[ivanhowe]

Does tir nan og, valhalla and les champs elysees have a don't ask, don't tell policy? I don't mean an office pinky who lusted after another office worker, but rather long term soldiers,(sergeants,officers) who very well could have died trying to protect their men . Or the Greek warriors, who fought to the death to save their beloved lovers in arms? I figure there must be countless men/soldiers who have paid their self sacrificial dues- men who prefered the intimate company of other men. And what about the straight men, do they get the virgins so popularily promised nowadays.I just can't imagine women in these quarters-I have an uneasy feeling they would be the cause of trouble up there as they are down here. I come down to the conclusion that to avoid all kinds of trouble- There'll be NO SEX for anyone. Anyone seeking an eternity of sexual pleasure through self sacrifice- you might as well live.

 

[PiercedChest]

Does tir nan og, valhalla and les champs elysees have a don't ask, don't tell policy? And what about the straight men, do they get the virgins so popularily promised nowadays. [...] to avoid all kinds of trouble- There'll be NO SEX for anyone.

What fun is that? Everlasting longing for the short time on Earth? Eternal gloom plucking a harp on a cloud, YIKES!! Fortunately that won't happen, the whole idea of a soul that survives the body is too silly to take seriously. Actually I think it's a criminal offense to make young men believe there's a 'reward' waiting for them if they get killed in battle. Pay before delivery, I say.

 

[Caronte]

I have mine. Unfortunately he is not my victim

 

[KiltedSoldier]

I hope there is plenty of sex for us soldiers after death, as well as before - our uniforms help us get it
Ivan is right many NCOs and Officers end up dying saving their men and men die to save their comrades, such is the way of war and the bond between soldiers - and I think the quality of a soldier's death and the cause matter. To quote William Wallace "all men die, some never live" - we are all going to die, volunteering to fight and die for your country is not that bad, and yes most of us do believe in an afterlife, not because someone told us we should to make us join up but we feel it in our souls.

Black Watch soldier visiting his comrades who have been dead for 70 years - slain at El Alamein, he will be with them again soon.

 

[ivanhowe]

What did he hope to gain by collaborating with the enemy? Maybe his angel of death is a gruesome one. Maybe I'm wrong- the angel of death is impartial and doesn't care how you died. He just rows you across the river, no tears, no sighs, no laughs, no disgust, no applause.What if you jumped into the River Styxx- would you drown -thus dying again?
And if you're a soldier, saw action and killed others. Would that be held against you? Maybe, after this is all over, Germans, Brits and Americans would go to the beer hall and have a great party- Oh, you bayonnetted me when I wasn't looking. -Ach ja, you ver looking at a bird. If ve could only do it gain. Next time, I get to stab you. Ah, ha ha.
Think about it- God loves soldiers- in heaven the big fight Lucifer and his gang. I sometimes think He plays with us as I did with my toy soldiers, which I still have.

 

[ivanhowe]

Suicide-are there any cultures that condone suicide? They're talking about it in the USA. Up til now, it has been a no-no. Maybe the angel of death should be scary because the after life might be worse for the self destroyer.

 

[KiltedSoldier]

If you are a warrior I doubt slaying enemies is held against you, we live by the sword and die by it, by our choice. I would have no problem sharing wine, women and song with former enemies in Valhalla. Suicide - have only heard of Japanese supporting that - seppuku / hara kiri, defeats the purpose being being a soldier, the only justification could be to avoid capture, Highlanders may self sacrifice, ie fight on until certain death but not commit suicide.

 

[ivanhowe]

Does anyone know the story behind this photo? Was he washed up, shot on the spot, friend or foe? I tend to think he was a father leaving wife and children behind. Somehow I have the feeling he did not die doing what he loved to do.

 

[KiltedSoldier]

Looks like a German dead on beach during an allied landing. Aye Mars' bill must be paid, warriors expect death in battle and accept it as a noble end to their service, the civilian conscript dies with regrets leaving his family early, but also with the love and honour of his country. I think the Angel of Death treats all soldiers who die honourably the same, whether we have killed enemy or not, so long as we do not debase our service by killing or injuring the weak and innocent whom we are sworn to protect. If there is a hell, the politicians who start wars should go there, not the soldiers who are sent to fight and die.

 

[ivanhowe]

Thank you, Meatpie for this photo of a daed soldier. I have changed it somewhat to glorify him. Wouldn't it be great if the angel of death for soldiers were Saint Sebastian? He is the patron saint of soldiers and he would be my nomination for heaven's greeter.The soldier would know right off the bat that an honored spot was waiting for him and he wouldn't have to wait for a balancing of his deeds, good and bad. Heaven's tears would wash off the blood and his boots would sparkle. Testosterone would flow through his body and he could make up for all the time spent on the parade deck. Days could be spent with comrads , warriors from other countries, and every century of warfare would available to him to observe and engage . Evenings could be spent with the person(s) of his choice. Or for whom those who like their vice versa, days merged into nights.

 

[ivanhowe]

I hope the devotees of Madahv will accept my alteration of his work as a tribute to his genius. I am not sure this is the angel of death. She looks young and hardly menacing. I question that she might be his guardian angel, saddened that he was not protected as he might well have been. Do those soldiers inspired by evil thoughts, determined to destroy the non-believers, have guardian angels? With the growing obese populations, heaven might well be portrayed as one long banquet table with doggie bags to go. In that case, the angel of death should welcome the dying soldier with a Baked Alaska/Cherries Jubilee. Happy eating.

 

[KiltedSoldier]

View attachment 46206Thank you, Meatpie for this photo of a daed soldier. I have changed it somewhat to glorify him. Wouldn't it be great if the angel of death for soldiers were Saint Sebastian? He is the patron saint of soldiers and he would be my nomination for heaven's greeter.The soldier would know right off the bat that an honored spot was waiting for him and he wouldn't have to wait for a balancing of his deeds, good and bad. Heaven's tears would wash off the blood and his boots would sparkle. Testosterone would flow through his body and he could make up for all the time spent on the parade deck. Days could be spent with comrads , warriors from other countries, and every century of warfare would available to him to observe and engage . Evenings could be spent with the person(s) of his choice. Or for whom those who like their vice versa, days merged into nights.

Sounds like Valhalla, would be proud and happy to go to such an afterlife when slain in combat, and be issued with a fresh Highlanders army issue kilt after my naked body has been washed and cleaned of its mortal wounds. I do not call those who kill in the name of fanatical religion soldiers, if they kill women and children and are cruel they are not worthy of the name of warrior / soldier, and should not be comforted after death.