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Matarael (マトリエル, Matorieru?) (Hebrew: מטראל) is the 9th Angel, which attacks when Tokyo-3 is in the middle of a power blackout. It is preceded by Sandalphon and succeeded by Sahaquiel.
Quick Answers
What is the significance of Matarael's name in Hebrew?
What is the physical appearance of Matarael in Evangelion?
Which Angel does Matarael succeed and precede in the series?
How does Matarael attack Tokyo-3 during a power blackout?
What does Matarael's opilinoid-like entity represent in the series?
Profile[]
Matarael's design, different points of view.
Matarael is a gigantic opilinoidWP-like entity, with four immensely large legs (which are taller than most skyscrapers) and a relatively small body core. The many "eyes" on Matarael's central body are not actual eyes, but a camouflage pattern using mimicry to confuse its enemies, although the central eye at the bottom of its body appears to be real and functional, providing it with the sense of vision. The Angel secretes orange-colored corrosive acid from this central eye, which can burn through anything.
Matarael does not have a visible core; it appears to be hidden internally, as per Ramiel and Sandalphon.
History[]
Neon Genesis Evangelion[]
Matarael above the Geofront.
The ninth Angel emerged from the Pacific Ocean and invaded Tokyo-3 from the former Atami area. With Tokyo-3's electrical power sabotaged by an unknown human party, NERV was incapable of detecting Matarael's landfall or receiving any information about it, thus giving it no opposition from Evangelions or surface defenses. Matarael moved into a position above the Geofront and began to secrete corrosive acid from its central eye to breach the armor below.
NERV eventually learned of the Angel's presence and launched the Evangelions manually, fitted with extra battery packs. The Evangelions climbed through access shafts, reaching an access shaft directly under the Angel's position. Splashed with corrosive acid, the Evas dropped their weapons and fell down the shaft.
Asuka Langley Sohryu took charge and devised a battle plan in which Unit-02 would neutralize the Angel's A.T. Field and protect the Evas below from the acid, while Unit-00 would jump to the bottom of the shaft, retrieve the pallet rifle, and pass it on to Unit-01. Unit-02 would move out of the way while Unit-01 fired directly upwards at the Angel. The plan was executed perfectly, and Matarael was killed in a prolonged burst of rifle fire.
Trivia[]
- Matarael's name means premonition of God.
- Matarael resembles an opilinoid, also known as a harvestman or daddy longlegs, a type of arachnid related to but distinct from spiders.
- The JSSDF generals debating what to do about Matarael without NERV refer to it amongst themselves as the eighth Angel, even though NERV refers to it as the ninth Angel; it is possible that the JSSDF do not count Lilith, because NERV keeps Lilith's existence a secret.
- The "eyes" on Matarael, as well as those on Sahaquiel, resemble the emblem of the Neo-Atlantean forces from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (directed by Hideaki Anno)[1]
- Matarael is the only angel in the original series to be dispatched solely with conventional gunfire. All others that perished in combat were killed either with exotic weapons or through destruction of the angel's core in close combat with an EVA.