Angel Gabriel

Overview and Issue

• The 2016 Dunnett Weekend was the inspiration for the author, after an excursion to Dunfermline Palace, Abbey and parish church.
• WG137

Abstract

"In the parish church there is a monument showing an angel tenderly greeting a descendant of Robert Bruce as he dies and (presumably) ascends to heaven. This sparked a conversation about how one might feel at meeting an angel. A terrifying experience, said some. No, it would be comforting, said others. This set me to wondering about the symbolism of angels in general and of Gabriel in particular. Why, apart from the coincidence of the initial G, did the Knights of St John nickname Graham Reid Malett after the archangel Gabriel? What is there in the symbolism and theology around Gabriel that would lead to such a nickname?" (DCR)

Author

• Deborah Conway Read

Dunnett Book Citations

• DK 1.1,1, DK 3.16,
• GOK 4.1.1,

Historical Characters

• Pierro Strozzi
• Nicolas de Nicolay

Fictional Characters

• Graham Reid Malett - Gabriel / Jubrael Pasha
• Joleta Reid Mallett
• Lord Culter
• Jerott Blythe
• Francis Crawford of Lymond

Locations

• (none)

Literature

• (none)

Illustrations

• Plaster cast of the Annunciation after glazed terracotta original by Andrea della Robbia, Ospedale di S. Maria degli Innocenti, Florence. 1888. © Victoria and Albert Museum.
• The Annunciation by Fra Filippo Lippi, c. 1450–53. © The National Gallery, London.
• Mohammed and the Archangel Gabriel, from the Siyer-i Nebi, Turkish School, 16th century. © Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey/Bridgeman Images.

Historical Events

Turkish attack, in 1551, on the Knights of St John of Malta known as the Siege of Mdina.

Other Non-Dunnett References

• Various references to the Bible, sourcing references to the Angel Gabriel: Book of Daniel; Gospel of Luke; the Talmud;