Samyaza

Samyaza or Šamayazzu, also called Yaqum, is the Watcher of leadership, courage, pharmacy, herbalism, and natural magic. He is the first Dekadarch and the first of the five great instigators among the Watchers. Symbols associated with Samyaza include the mortar and pestle, the bundle of herbs, the crow, and the lion. He is one of the best-known Watchers in the Satano-Grigorist tradition, as well as one of the few Watchers who are relatively well-known among occult-inclined nikarūma. He is a very popular choice for nikaru occultists who dabble in work with the Watchers.

Within Satano-Grigorism, he is most commonly prayed to for assistance with leadership, especially courage in leadership. His associations also make him a favorite of Satano-Grigorists in the field of pharmacy, as well as those hoping for good outcomes involving medication for themselves or their loved ones. He is also prayed to for insight on herbal offerings or preparations.

Role in the Grigoric Narrative

Samyaza played a significant role in nearly all major events of the Grigoric Narrative, including the Watchers' decision to rebel, the swearing of Beqa, the Descent itself, the Great Flood, the Brazen War, and more. As the chief and leader of all the Watchers, Samyaza led his brothers through all of their collective deeds.

After the Watchers made their plan to rebel, Samyaza expressed concern that the others would back out and betray him, leaving him alone to bear the consequences after the inevitable discovery of the rebellion by Yahweh. To reassure him, Asbe'el suggested a drastic measure: a binding oath, sealed by the power of Harmoniel.

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[The Watchers] said to one another: “Let us abandon our master Yahweh and descend to earth, that we may lie with women from among the daughters of men and beget children of our own. And we shall teach the secrets of the higher realms to the men and women, and we shall guide them against the will of Yahweh.” Then Samyaza, who was their leader, said to the other Watchers: “I fear you will not do this deed alongside me, and then I alone shall have to face Yahweh, whom I cannot defeat on my own.” But Asbe'el answered him and said: “Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by [Harmoniel's] power not to abandon this plan but to do what we have set out to do.” Then the Watchers swore together and bound themselves by the power of [Harmoniel] upon the oath, which was called Beqa.

— The Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch

Following the swearing of Beqa and the breaking of their bonds to Yahweh, the Watchers descended from Mt. Hermon and began visiting human settlements. While Samyaza was incarnate in the physical realm, he primarily taught humans (especially women) how to make medicines out of herbs; he also emboldened leaders, taught wandmaking alongside Tamiel, and led armies of nephilim and allied mutūma against the angels during the Brazen War.

The first woman he lay with was named Asterah, and his first two sons, presumably by Asterah, were named Ohya (Oheya) and Hahya (Ahiyah). The legendary kings Og and Sihon were descendants of Samyaza through Hahya.

Name

Etymology

Multiple different etymologies have been suggested for the name Samyaza, but the Temple's research has found that the most likely etymology is from two roots that are common to most Semitic languages:

1. š-m-m or š-m-y, which means either "heavens," i.e. the spiritual realm, or "sky." The Ugaritic word derived from this root is šamūma, and the Hebrew word is šāmayim; both mean "heavens" or "spiritual realm."
2. ʿ-z-z, which means "power," "strength," or "might," often with a connotation of pride. This is the same root in the name of Azazel.

Therefore, "Samyaza" means "power of the heavens."

His alternate name Yaqum (sometimes rendered as Yeqon) is derived from the Semitic root q-w-m, meaning "to rise" or "to stand." The prefix indicates the third person. Therefore, this name means "he rises" or "he stands."

Variants

Many variants of Samyaza's name have been recorded over the years. Some are just as good to use as "Samyaza" or "Yaqum"; some are accidental corruptions formed through linguistic variation; others are downright offensive.

The following list includes most of the known variants of Samyaza's name. Inclusion in this list does not imply the Temple's approval or disapproval of any particular form of the name; it simply exists to document known variants that refer to the same Watcher. Many of these variants are corruptions of the name.

Known variants: Amasarac, Amazarak, Amezarak, Amezaras, Amezyarak, Amizarack, Amizaras, Sahjaza, Samayazzu, Samhazai, Samiaza, Samiazaz, Samiarus, Samiarush, Samiyaza, Samjaza, Samjâzâ, Samlazaz, Samyasa, Samyaza, Samyazaz, Samyazu, Samyazzu, Sêmîazâz, Semeyaza, Semiaza, Semiazaz, Semiaxas, Semihazah, Semiyaza, Semjaza, Semjâzâ, Semyaza, Semyazah, Semyazza, Sémaziôs, Sham-Hazai, Shamḥazai, Shamazya, Shamayza, Šamayazzu (Shamayazzu), Shamhazai, Shamhazzai, Shemêhaza, Shemhazah, Shemhazai, Shemhazi, Shemihazah, Shemyaza, Shemyaza(z), Shemyazaz, Shenhazai, and Šemihaza.

Only some of these variants of Samyaza's name are accepted by the Grigorist Temple of Satanael. Most of them are listed below.

Acceptable variants: Samayazzu, Samyaza, Samyazaz, Samyazazu, Samyazu, Samyazu, Samyazzu, Šamayaza (Shamayaza), Šamayazzu (Shamayazzu), and Šamyaza (Shamyaza).

Other aliases and conflations

In some texts, Samyaza is referred to as simply Uzza or Ouza ("power"). These names, however, may also sometimes be applied to other beings. A few obscure online lists report the names Tanvir and Onik as alternate names of Samyaza, but no source has been found for these claims, and no known ancient texts apply these names to him.

He is sometimes wrongly conflated with Azazel (Satanael), the Watcher Asael, or even the angel Samael. Some neo-occultists and new-age mystics envision Samyaza and Azazel as aspects of one composite being, usually called Shemyazazel. These interpretations are baseless and rejected by Satano-Grigorists.

Titles and epithets

Samyaza has a few titles and epithets, usually used during prayer or invocation. These include "Chief of the Watchers" and "Great Herbalist."

Appearance

Samyaza appears as a green-eyed man in his late twenties or early thirties, with large black feathered wings on his back. He has thick, wavy, medium-length black hair and a short, dark beard. His build is muscular and semi-lean, not slender but not excessively bulky.

Garments

Samyaza most often appears entirely naked, but sometimes, he wears a simple black loincloth. Occasionally, he is seen with a horned crown or headpiece. This can vary in appearance, but it usually seems to be crafted mostly of natural materials like horn, bone, and wood.

Accessory objects

Samyaza usually holds a bundle of herbs in one or both hands. He also often has a mortar and pestle, one of his major symbols. Sometimes, he bears a wooden staff, which seems to be used more as a magical tool than a walking stick. In some contexts, he may appear holding a sword or other objects associated with combat.

A vision of Samyaza with a sword or other weapons is considered rather ominous, often referring to larger-than-life experiences that may involve difficulty or hardship as well as triumph. These events are likely to have an impact on one's character, values, or mindset, and they must be faced with courage and self-awareness. Trusted and loyal people should be kept close during this time, for they may make the difference between victory and disaster.

Setting

Samyaza is commonly seen on rocky, snowy mountain slopes reminiscent of Mt. Hermon. He is also frequently seen gathering herbs or grinding them in his mortar and pestle.

His sigil is known.

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See also

• Arakiel
• Asbe'el
• Ramiel
• Harmoniel

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