Saint Michael the Angel

18th century

Granite

[Provenance:] Guimarães, Recolhimento de São Miguel-o-Anjo

MAS E 19

The name Michael (in Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל), means He who is (Mi) Like (Ka) God (El). In the Bible, is given to a leading archangel. Brother of Gabriel and Lucifer, Michael is one of the three angels mentioned by name in the Bible, along with Raphael and Gabriel. He is referred to in the Book of Daniel (10:13, 10:21 and 12:1), in the Book of Judas (1:9) and in the Book of Revelation (12:7). His feast is celebrated on September 29. His iconographic attributes are a Shield («Quit ut Deus» – «Depart like God») and a fight against the dragon (symbol of evil).