Angels have been seen to float about the Thames in London during times of trouble. NIA JONES reports on this mysterious phenomenon.
Whispers regarding the mysterious Thames Angel allegedly began after the Great Fire of London – the devastating event occurring on September the 2nd, 1666.
The fire ferociously and quickly spread from Thomas Farynor’s bakeshop on Pudding Lane at about 1am.
The family’s servant awoke to find the building aflame, unable to control the flames the family escaped to safety but the terrified servant sadly perished in the blaze.
Even King Charles II himself tried to help put out the inferno by helping those carrying fire buckets, six people lost their lives, and were buried in what is now known as Jubilee Gardens, the King, heavy of heart, also attended the funerals of the victims.
The fire caused the widespread devastation of the city; but among the charred remains people, rebuilding London and their lives claimed to have seen a vaporous, winged-looking anomaly floating above the River Thames and in the ruins of the surrounding areas.
These were the first recorded sightings of the later branded ‘Thames Angel’, though it does not rule out the possibility that the angel had appeared to people much earlier than the Great Fire of London.
There were six recorded sightings during the time, how many more is unknown; even the famous diarist Samuel Pepys believed he had seen the heavenly spectre and explained it as “what could only be described as an angel”.
The ghostly apparition provided an overall positive effect on Londoners and was accepted as a good omen, inspiring hope to carry on from the tragedy.
This reinforced the theory that the angel was in fact ‘The Angel of Promise’ mirroring ‘The Rainbow of Promise’ that appeared to Noah in the Old Testament’s book of Genesis (8.20-9.17).
The angel was said to appear as a reminder of the divine protection bestowed on London and no matter how devastating the tragedy; remember that God loves and redeems, there will always be a bright new day to come.
Perhaps this may explain why those who claim to have encountered the angel feel a deep and serene sense of reassurance, and that a feeling of comfort lasts for some time afterwards.
Builders during the construction of the Victoria Embankment in 1865 claimed they witnessed the angel’s presence on several occasions and during the two World Wars, the angel was sighted on many occasions – thus signifying divine support in times of peril.
Others believe that the angel only appears to very blessed people, that those people alone have the required divine and spiritual qualities to have the angel manifest in front of them.
As recently as 2006 -four people have claimed to witness the Angel of the Thames in the area of the London Eye on the Southbank.
Student Jemima Waterhouse was on route to meet a friend when she spotted the anomaly hovering close to the Thames Queen Mary floating restaurant, feeling a sense of comfort and peace, she snapped the apparition with her camera phone, which she thought would probably be of poor quality. On resizing the wispy image on her computer, she saw the distinct outline of what appeared to be an angel.
There may be, of course a more scientific explanation for this ghostly phenomena, many have offered rational and scientific theories about the origin of this occurrence, from boat fumes creating a mirage on the water, pollution, weather pressure and the reflection or flares created by photographic and recording equipment. However, it is unexplained why all alleged photographic proof seems to have captured the angel in a similar manifestation form?
The ghostly figure’s sightings have been sporadic over the centuries but have prompted much debate about supposed angel’s origin and purpose, the mystery is surely set to continue for those who are lucky enough to witness The Angel of the Thames.
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AFTERNOTE: Here is an article from 2008 which suggests The Angel of the Thames may be a fake!
Malaika wameonekana wakivuka Mto Thames huko London wakati wa matatizo. NIA JONES inaripoti juu ya jambo hili la ajabu. "Kulingana na taarifa za habari, ""Thames Angel"" ilianza kuonekana baada ya moto mkubwa wa London, Septemba 2, 1666." Moto huo ulisambaa kwa kasi kutoka kwenye duka la kuoka mikate la Thomas Farynor kwenye Pudding Lane karibu saa 1 asubuhi. Mtumishi wa familia hiyo aliamka na kugundua jengo hilo likiwaka moto, bila kuweza kudhibiti moto, familia hiyo ilikimbia kwa usalama lakini mtumishi huyo aliyeogopa sana alikufa katika moto huo. Mfalme Charles II mwenyewe alijaribu kusaidia kuzima moto kwa kuwasaidia wale waliobeba ndoo za moto, watu sita walipoteza maisha yao, na kuzikwa katika kile kinachojulikana sasa kama Jubilee Gardens. Moto huo ulisababisha uharibifu mkubwa wa jiji hilo, lakini miongoni mwa mabaki ya watu waliochomwa moto, watu waliojenga upya London na maisha yao walidai kuwa wameona anomaly ya mvuke, inayoonekana kama mabawa, ikielea juu ya Mto Thames na katika magofu ya maeneo ya karibu. Hizi zilikuwa mara za kwanza kurekodiwa za kuonekana kwa 'Malaika wa Thames' aliyeitwa baadaye, ingawa haipuuzi uwezekano kwamba malaika huyo alikuwa ameonekana kwa watu mapema sana kuliko Moto Mkubwa wa London. "Kulikuwa na matukio sita ya kuonekana kwa roho ya mbinguni, hata mwandishi maarufu wa kitabu cha kumbukumbu Samuel Pepys aliamini kwamba alikuwa ameona ""mwitu wa mbinguni"" na alielezea kama ""kile ambacho kinaweza kuelezwa tu kama malaika.""" Maono hayo ya roho yaliwapa watu wa London hisia nzuri na yakakubaliwa kuwa ishara nzuri, ikitoa matumaini ya kuendelea na msiba huo. Hii iliimarisha nadharia kwamba malaika huyo kwa kweli alikuwa 'Malaika wa Ahadi' akionyesha 'Suku ya Ahadi' ambayo ilionekana kwa Noa katika kitabu cha Agano la Kale cha Mwanzo (820-9.17). Malaika huyo alitajwa kuwa ni kumbukumbu ya ulinzi wa Mungu uliotolewa kwa London na haijalishi ni msiba gani wa kuangamiza; kumbuka kwamba Mungu anapenda na kuokoa, kutakuwa na siku mpya yenye kung'aa kuja. Labda hii inaweza kueleza kwa nini wale wanaodai kuwa wamekutana na malaika wanahisi hisia ya kina na utulivu ya uhakikisho, na kwamba hisia ya faraja hudumu kwa muda fulani baada ya hapo. Wakati wa ujenzi wa Victoria Embankment mnamo 1865, wajenzi walidai kuwa walishuhudia uwepo wa malaika mara kadhaa, na wakati wa Vita Kuu mbili, malaika alionekana mara nyingi, na hivyo kuonyesha msaada wa kimungu wakati wa hatari. Wengine wanaamini kwamba malaika huonekana tu kwa watu waliobarikiwa sana, kwamba watu hao pekee wana sifa za kimungu na za kiroho zinazohitajika ili malaika awe wazi mbele yao. Watu wanne wamedai kuwa wameona Malaika wa Mto Thames katika eneo la London Eye. Mwanafunzi Jemima Waterhouse alikuwa njiani kukutana na rafiki yake wakati alipogundua anomaly hiyo ikizunguka karibu na Thames Queen Mary, akihisi hisia ya faraja na amani, alipiga picha ya maono hayo na simu yake ya kamera, ambayo alidhani ingekuwa ya ubora wa chini. Alipokuwa akibadilisha ukubwa wa picha hiyo kwenye kompyuta yake, aliona umbo la malaika. Kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na ufafanuzi wa kisayansi zaidi kwa jambo hili la roho, wengi wametoa nadharia za kiakili na kisayansi kuhusu asili ya tukio hili, kutoka kwa moshi wa mashua kuunda mwangaza juu ya maji, uchafuzi, shinikizo la hali ya hewa na mwangaza au mwangaza uliotengenezwa na vifaa vya kupiga picha na kurekodi. Hata hivyo, haijulikani ni kwa nini ushahidi wote wa picha unaodhaniwa umeonekana kumkamata malaika katika namna kama hiyo ya kuonekana? Maono ya malaika hao wamekuwa ya mara kwa mara kwa karne nyingi lakini yametokeza mjadala mwingi kuhusu asili na kusudi la malaika huyo, na siri hiyo itaendelea kwa wale ambao watakuwa na bahati ya kumwona Malaika wa Thames. Tuambie maoni yako kuhusu makala hii katika maoni hapa chini! "Hii ni kwa sababu ya makala ya ""The Angel of the Thames"" iliyochapishwa mwaka 2008."