The Physical Appearance of Angels: A Treatment of Possibilities

Angels in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are known as messengers from the deity. Those people receiving these messages often describe the angels in very similar fashions. They are described as being humanoid creatures surrounded by light with expansive wing spans, stretching a few feet in length.

While I cannot discuss or dispute the existence of angels, I would like to discuss their physical appearance as described in many of the visions or encounters with people.

In most depictions, angels are seen as strong, athletic, adult males. Assuming that these angels have the same physical characteristics as their athletic male counterparts, it could be assumed that their weight would be similar as well. For the sake of this discussion I will assume that the average weight of an athletic male is approximately 150 lbs. I will also assume that the average weight of these angels is approximately 150 lbs. If these assumptions are correct, I am faced with my first physical problem with the accepted descriptions of angels.

The only flying animals that have been proven to exist, and still exist are birds. In terms of flight, these animals can further divided into two subgroups, namely those that use updrafts to glide in order to take flight, or those who use the power of their wings to over come drag and create lift. In the case of an Andean Condor, a well known gliding bird, the average wing span is approximately 10 feet, and the average weight is approximately 25 pounds. In the case of the trumpeter swan, a bird known for using its wings to create flight, the average wing span is approximately 9 feet, and the average weight is about 25 pounds. The turkey vulture, a somewhat smaller bird that uses both gliding and wing powered flight techniques, have a maximum wing span of approximately 6 feet, and weigh on average 4 pounds. Taking into account these three examples, the average wing span to weight ratio for animals that can achieve flight, either by gliding or wing power is approximately 0.75 feet per pound.

If we assume this ratio is valid, than that would indicate that an animal weighing approximately 150 lbs would have to have a wing span of approximately 112.5 feet in order to obtain flight, either through gliding or powered wing flight. In almost all the depictions of angels that I know of, either through stories or drawings, the wings of the angels are proportional to the body at a 1:1 or 1:2 ratios. In many of the depictions, the angels are also comparable in size to the humans involved. If we assume the height of the angel to be six feet that would indicate a wingspan of between six and twelve feet, at least two magnitudes different from the size of the wing span required for flight.

The second physical aspect of angels that I find puzzling is the structure and orientation of the muscles in relationship to their bone structure. In the cases of birds, the limbs that have been developed into forelimbs in mammals such as humans have developed into wings. Except for smaller animals such dragonflies, I can think of no animals in the natural world that have two pairs of limbs in the forearm sections. If such an animal existed, and it was the same basic size of a grown man weighing 150 lbs, I would think that the muscles used to control the shoulder area would either be disproportionately developed, or two sets of shoulder muscles, one for the wings, and one of the arms would have to exist. In all the depictions that I have seen, or those have been described to me, I can find no evidence of such a muscle development. As far as I can tell, the physical attributes of the angel’s torso is right in line with the physiology of a human.

In addition to the discrepancies with the wing span, and the muscle orientation and nature, the bone structure of the angel would have to be markedly different in order to support both the wings and arms in the upper body. For example, in order to support the weight of the wings, as well as the muscles needed to operate the wings, I would think the breastbone, centrally located would have to be much longer and thicker in order to support everything. Once again, I can find no evidence of such a physical change in any of the depictions I have seen or stories that I have been told.

Based on these thoughts, I cannot believe that the physical characteristics as described for angels exist. I cannot say for certain whether angels in fact exist, for they are creatures supremely tied to a person’s faith. I can only say my opinion. It is my opinion that as depicted, the angels seen within the monotheistic religions could not physically exist.

So if we cannot assume that the depictions of angels are accurate, what then? Perhaps, instead of having physical bodies, the angels are beings of energy, which would not be restricted by the physical aspects of the body. Perhaps the known depictions of angels are the interpretation of those viewing these energy creatures. I would submit, though, that the physical appearance of angels is unimportant. For a person of faith, the looks of the messenger is less important than the message itself.