Movie
Description
Cherub Astaroth is a fictional character from the animated film Saint Seiya: Warriors of the Final Holy Battle. He is depicted as one of Lucifer's four Fallen Angels, specifically holding the rank of Cherub. Astaroth is a malevolent warrior whose primary purpose is to serve Lucifer's ambition of dominating the world and vanquishing the goddess Athena and her Saints.
In the narrative, Astaroth is first seen as one of four mysterious shadows that systematically eliminate the Gold Saints who had survived previous battles. After completing this task, these shadows reveal their true forms before the statue of Athena, awaiting the arrival of their master, Lucifer. Astaroth and his fellow Fallen Angels are formidable antagonists, easily overpowering the Bronze Saints when they first attempt to defend Saori Kido, Athena's reincarnation. Later, as the Bronze Saints attempt to reach Athena within Lucifer's temple, Pandemonium, Astaroth and another Fallen Angel named Beelzebub block their path.
During this confrontation, Dragon Shiryu remains behind to fight both Astaroth and Beelzebub so his comrades can advance. Throughout the battle, Astaroth demonstrates a brash and aggressive personality, growing frustrated with Shiryu's resilience. When Beelzebub hesitates to join the fight, Astaroth scolds him and insists on engaging the Bronze Saint directly. His arrogance is a key trait, as he underestimates Shiryu's determination and power.
Astaroth's most notable ability is his supreme technique, the Killer Fanged Kobra. This attack involves a series of rapid, powerful blows that emulate the sharp bite of a snake, projected through punches capable of piercing even a Saint's strongest defenses. In the film, using this technique, Astaroth successfully destroys Dragon Shiryu's shield and wounds him severely. However, his overconfidence proves to be his undoing. Despite his initial advantage, Shiryu refuses to surrender and ultimately defeats Astaroth with his own signature maneuver, the Rozan Shōryūha. Beyond this, as a Fallen Angel, Astaroth possesses superhuman physical characteristics and immense Cosmo energy, the inner power system used by all warriors in the Saint Seiya universe.
The character's name and design draw from mythological and demonological sources. Astaroth shares his name with a prominent demon described in grimoires like The Lesser Key of Solomon, where he is known as a Great Duke of Hell associated with laziness, vanity, and accusations. The name is also linked to Astarte, an ancient Canaanite goddess of fertility, love, and war, who was equivalent to the Sumerian Inanna and the Babylonian Ishtar. This connection to fallen divinity reinforces his role as a powerful, corrupted celestial being in opposition to the divine forces of Athena.
In the narrative, Astaroth is first seen as one of four mysterious shadows that systematically eliminate the Gold Saints who had survived previous battles. After completing this task, these shadows reveal their true forms before the statue of Athena, awaiting the arrival of their master, Lucifer. Astaroth and his fellow Fallen Angels are formidable antagonists, easily overpowering the Bronze Saints when they first attempt to defend Saori Kido, Athena's reincarnation. Later, as the Bronze Saints attempt to reach Athena within Lucifer's temple, Pandemonium, Astaroth and another Fallen Angel named Beelzebub block their path.
During this confrontation, Dragon Shiryu remains behind to fight both Astaroth and Beelzebub so his comrades can advance. Throughout the battle, Astaroth demonstrates a brash and aggressive personality, growing frustrated with Shiryu's resilience. When Beelzebub hesitates to join the fight, Astaroth scolds him and insists on engaging the Bronze Saint directly. His arrogance is a key trait, as he underestimates Shiryu's determination and power.
Astaroth's most notable ability is his supreme technique, the Killer Fanged Kobra. This attack involves a series of rapid, powerful blows that emulate the sharp bite of a snake, projected through punches capable of piercing even a Saint's strongest defenses. In the film, using this technique, Astaroth successfully destroys Dragon Shiryu's shield and wounds him severely. However, his overconfidence proves to be his undoing. Despite his initial advantage, Shiryu refuses to surrender and ultimately defeats Astaroth with his own signature maneuver, the Rozan Shōryūha. Beyond this, as a Fallen Angel, Astaroth possesses superhuman physical characteristics and immense Cosmo energy, the inner power system used by all warriors in the Saint Seiya universe.
The character's name and design draw from mythological and demonological sources. Astaroth shares his name with a prominent demon described in grimoires like The Lesser Key of Solomon, where he is known as a Great Duke of Hell associated with laziness, vanity, and accusations. The name is also linked to Astarte, an ancient Canaanite goddess of fertility, love, and war, who was equivalent to the Sumerian Inanna and the Babylonian Ishtar. This connection to fallen divinity reinforces his role as a powerful, corrupted celestial being in opposition to the divine forces of Athena.