Sandalphon

Sandalphon
サンダルフォン
Number	8th
Symbol	Embryo
Appearance(s)	Episode 10
Defeated by	Eva-02

Sandalphon is the 8th Angel, discovered in an embryonic state, and annihilated, within the magma of Mount Asama.

Biology

Sandalphon's "adult" form is flattened, finned, and overall fish-like. The Cambrian Era aquatic predator Anomalocaris has been cited as conceptual inspiration, and a couple of features carry over directly: the ring-shaped, ventrally-positioned mouth and the large eyes situated atop stalks. Sandalphon has long, sinuous arms that terminate in human-like hands, each with four fingers and a thumb; the spines on the digits mimic those of Anomalocaris' feeding appendages. What appear to be mock eyes lie on the left side of the head, evoking the unusual optical arrangement of a flatfish. The Angel's core potentially lies beneath the left-hand "eye" (in battle, it is the target of two separate attacks by Asuka).

Sandalphon's physical constitution is specialized for the intense conditions within the volcano, to the point that even internal structures are uncompromised (indicated when it opens its mouth without adverse effect). As a result, a weapon such as the Progressive Knife is, normally, incapable of afflicting damage.

The Angel is initially discovered in a humanoid state, vaguely resembling a human embryo and encased within a dark, elliptical object. When Sandalphon prepares to hatch, it vocalizes in the same manner as a human baby (however distorted) and proceeds to rearrange its mass into a new form. (The transformation is obscured by a blurry distortion, a convention in the show typically used to indicate the employment of an A.T. Field.) According to Ritsuko, Sandalphon's emergence occurs "much earlier than ... predicted", although no further elaboration is provided. To deepen the mystery, the Angel is larger than its own mother (in being larger than EVA-02) even in a subadult state.

Ritsuko also comments on the ovular object, "It's something like a chrysalis prior to reaching the adult stage". A chrysalis, or pupa, is a stage in the developmental cycle of some insects:

1. ovum (egg)
2. larva (worm)
3. pupa (chrysalis)
4. imago (adult)

For the comparison to be meaningful, Sandalphon would have needed to be in a free-roaming "larval" state (independent of the "chrysalis") at some point. However, what is known about Adam's offspring (however sparse) makes this concept difficult to justify. Accordingly, the casing is typically equated with an egg. See: Origin of Angels.

Battle

After the Mt. Asama Earthquake Research Laboratory discovers the embryonic Sandalphon, Nerv undertakes an operation with the intention of capturing a live Angel. EVA-02 is deployed in D-Type Equipment -- specialized for protection against extreme heat, pressure, and radiation -- with a "catcher" capable of generating an electromagnetic cage. EVA-01 remains at the surface of the volcano as backup.

Although EVA-02 needs to be lowered further than the predicted depth to find the Angel, and loses her utility belt (together with the Progressive Knife) along the way, Sandalphon is sucessfully intercepted and captured. However, it soon rouses, transforms, and breaks free of the cage. With Sandalphon designated a target for annihilation, Shinji throws EVA-01's knife down to Asuka to replace the one she had lost. After briefly breaking away, the Angel engages EVA-02.

Sandalphon plants its mouth over EVA-02's helmet and clutches her left leg with its free hand, eventually damaging the suit and causing the leg to be detached below the knee. Due to the Angel's heavily reinforced physical constitution, the Progressive Knife is completely ineffective. At length, Asuka -- recalling an earlier interchange with Shinji about thermal expansion -- severs one of the suit's coolant tubes and forces it into Sandalphon's mouth. This, together with a renewed knife assault, eventually kills Sandalphon. No more than a couple of minutes after hatching, it dissolves into the magma without a trace.

Other

Whether Sandalphon's actions are belligerant in nature is unknown: Although it appears to tear off EVA-02's left leg at one point, the script ascribes this to a blasting bolt; and whether or not it intentionally damages EVA-02's support line before dying is ambiguous. The "baby sounds" the Angel makes before hatching may imply that Sandalphon's mindset is actually that of an infant, and that its behavior might be interpreted accordingly. See: Theory & Analysis: Angel Psychology.

Sandalphon is named for the angel who, according to Kabbalists, plays a major role in determining the sex of a human embryo.

Angels

Angels (general)

First and Second Angels (Seeds of Life): Adam | Lilith

Third to Seventeenth Angels (Adam's Children):

Sachiel | Shamshel | Ramiel | Gaghiel | Israfel | Sandalphon | Matarael | Sahaquiel

Ireul | Leliel | Bardiel | Zeruel | Arael | Armisael | Tabris

Eighteenth Angel: Lilin

Rebuild of Evangelion: ?Adams? | Lilith | 3rd Angel | 4th Angel | 5th Angel | 6th Angel | 7th Angel | 8th Angel | 9th Angel | 10th Angel | 11th Angel | 12th Angel | 1st/13th Angel

Other: Extracanonical Angels