

Before and usually, characters with wing are shown to have the wing grow from
his/her upper back area. Example for angel/light-side characters that have
such wing are Shidou Irina (High School DxD), Ikaros and the other angeloids
(Sora no Otoshimono), and Musubi (Sekirei, only shown when she initiates an
inori/prayer limit break). From the dark side we have Ulquiorra Schiffer
(Bleach), Angela Blanc (Kuroshitsuji). The following picture is of the said
Ikaros.

[![Ikaros](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RgQRil.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RgQRil.png)

However, there are also characters who has their wing grow from the posterior
area slightly above the butt, and sometimes called as balance wing. Example
from the dark side are, Rias Gremory and other devils (High School DxD), and
Naruse Maria (Shinmai Maou no Testament).

[![Rias
Gremory](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hHAbxl.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hHAbxl.jpg)

As far as I know, those wings are originated from European stories and
depiction of angel and devils. In European classics grows from the back and
not the lower back/butt area. For example the following picture is an image of
Arch-Angel Michael from St. Catherine's monastery.

[![Arch Angel Michael from St. Catherine's
monastery](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vz7Pgl.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vz7Pgl.jpg)

This is further reinforced with the fact that in Shinto gods are not depicted
with wings. The following is an image of Susano-o-no-mikoto a Shinto god of
storm by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

[![Susanoo](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Is3A5l.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Is3A5l.jpg)

What is the origin of those posterior wings/balance wing?


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2016-04-27T07:32:13.943
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question
tropes
What is the origin of posterior wing trope?