Samael (theology)

Samael is a powerful archangel who has had many roles - the most important being that of destruction and death as well as accuser and seducer - in many ways this makes him similiar to Lucifer but unlike the almost universally evil depictions of Satan Samael is regarded as both good and evil.

Depending on tradition Samael can be a fallen angel or he can be seen as an angel who is still loyal to divine law but enforces the darker side of faith (in either form he can be considered an alter-ego of Satan or a unique entity in his own right).

A trait of Samael different from Satan is that even when depicted as a fallen angel he is said to be under the command of God - as opposed to being a direct enemy,