Ancient Judaism

Cherubs around the Virgin and Child, detail by Giovanni Bellini

Cherub

Cherub or Cherubim A cherub (cherubim; כְּרוּב‎ kərūv, כְּרוּבִים kərūvîm) is one of the unearthly beings who directly attend to God according to Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles; their original duty having been the protection of the Garden of Eden In Jewish angelic hierarchy, cherubim have the ninth (second-lowest)...

Seraphim figures in Hagia Sophia.

Seraph

Seraph or Seraphim A seraph (“the burning one”; seraphs or seraphim, in the King James Version also seraphims (plural); שָׂרָף śārāf, plural שְׂרָפִים śərāfîm; seraphim and seraphin (plural), also seraphus (-i, m.); σεραφείμ serapheím; مشرفين Musharifin) is a Hebrew-origin word referring to a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The singular...