I don’t understand the angel hierarchy

[Shampoo]

Archangels are of a lower rank than Powers but Archangel Camael is the leader of the Powers even though he ranks lower than a Power?

[🎃 Claire 🎃]

In SMT in general, archangels are treated as if they were actually the "top tier" of power and authority for angels, only second to some other major Law characters like Mastema and Merkabah in terms of angels.

[MESeele]

In the actual religion-dictated hierarchy, "Archangel" is the 8th order (2nd lowest) whose name means "1st among Angels"; angels being the 9th order.

Then above even Seraphim (the 1st order), are the archangels, because they are 1st among 'all angels'. A bit confusing, but it makes sense.

Using your example: Camael is an archangel, but is not an Archangel. She is among those above all 9 orders of angels, and is not of the 8th order. Archangels can come from any order. Camael oversees the Powers, but is not a Power herself. I can't remember off the top of my head what order she originated from.

[MESeele]

Btw, Powers are the 6th order. So they are indeed above Archangels, but way lower than archangels.

[🎃 Claire 🎃]

Originally posted by MESeele:

In the actual religion-dictated hierarchy, "Archangel" is the 8th order (2nd lowest) whose name means "1st among Angels"; angels being the 9th order.

Then above even Seraphim (the 1st order), are the archangels, because they are 1st among 'all angels'. A bit confusing, but it makes sense.

Using your example: Camael is an archangel, but is not an Archangel. She is among those above all 9 orders of angels, and is not of the 8th order. Archangels can come from any order. Camael oversees the Powers, but is not a Power herself. I can't remember off the top of my head what order she originated from.

I know I'm not OP, but thank you for the clarification. I never noticed the distinction myself, and that makes sense. Whenever we've gone over the orders in my Art History classes, my profs have acted like the order of Archangels is just a mixed bag, with some that stick out with seeming extra importance. Your explanation makes more sense.