Shamshel

Name: Shamshel, Angel of the Sun
Classification: The Fourth Angel
Appears in Episode: 3, 14

Shamshel is the Fourth Angel, appearing three weeks after the attack of Sachiel. Shamshel thus becomes the second Angel that Shinji Ikari, the Third Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, is confronted by in New Tokyo-3.

Shamshel's physical appearance resembles that of a giant insect, with a large disc-shaped head housing its Core, and an abdominal area with two arms and eight small legs. A distinctive characteristic of this Angel is its varying states or modes. In its aerial state (which allows for low-speed low-altitude flight), the Angel's body is positioned horizontally to the ground, with its weapons sheathed into its arms. In its combat state, it stands vertically to the ground, at times with its head tilted at 90° towards its target.

The Angel's primary offensive weapons are two razor-sharp whips extending from its arms. These are commonly described by fans as light-whips or beam-whips. The whips are extremely fast and versatile, having the ability to slice through entire buildings in a single pass, making close-combat particularly difficult for Shinji.

Shamshel's AT Field however is among the weakest of the Angels. Although strong enough to repel conventional ranged weapons, Evangelion Unit-01 had more trouble getting past its two offensive whips than its AT Field. The Angel is ultimately defeated once Evangelion Unit-01 plunges its Progressive Knife directly into its Core. The maneuver also allows NERV to recover a near undamaged Angel for analysis, which proves to be invaluable to the development of the experimental S² Engine.

Rebuild of Evangelion

Shamshel has received some cosmetic upgrades in the 2008 feature film Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone. Its segmented torso limbs are now mobile and more detailed, resembling rib-like structures connected to an exposed spine. It also has a small bone mask similar to that of Sachiel over its head.

Combat mechanics with the angel remain largely unchanged, however upon death Shamshel and its Core completely collapse into a blood red liquid; and only its whip arms remain. It has also been designated as the fifth Angel instead of the fourth as seen in the original television series.

Analysis

• Mythology of Shamshel, the Angel of the Sun
  
  Shamshel (also referred to as Shamsiel and/or Shamshiel) is named after an Angel from Judeo-Christian scriptures. He is believed to have been assigned by God to guard the Garden of Eden following the expulsion of Adam and Eve. This would in turn make him a Cherub-class Angel. He is also said to have lead 365 legions of lesser Angels in the Judaic manuscripts known as Zohar.