1832 – Replica Stele of Revealing

Physical description:

Copy (painted on wood panel) of an Ancient Egyptian stele - the Stele of Revealing - which was an important influence on Aleister Crowley. It shows Nut, Horus and a priest (Ankh-ef-en-Khonsu), plus hieroglyphs. Also has hieroglyphs on back.

Museum classification:

Ritual Magic

Size:

510 x 310 x 5

Information:

The donor writes: 'The original is in the Cairo Museum of Antiquities, and played a key part in opening Aleister Crowley to information from his wife Rose that Horus wished to communicate with him, and subsequently to the delivery of The Book of the Law by Aiwas. I have made several copies, at least two of which are currently in use by the OTO as they are placed on the altar for the Gnostic Mass.'

The history of this object and its symbolism is enormous.  What follows is a summary.  For more on this object see Crowley's writings especially the Book of the Law.  

In 1904, Crowley’s wife, Rose, had a dream after which she kept hearing a voice saying “They are waiting for you.”  The couple then visited a Museum in Cairo and saw this Ancient Egyptian artefact.  Rose said to Crowley when she saw it, “There he is!” pointing at the image of Horus as Ra-Hoor-Khuit.  Crowley was astonished as the number of the exhibit was 666 (his number, the number of the Beast).  His wife had seen Horus in a dream and led Crowley to this artefact that was to become known as the Stele of Revealing (Crowley is pictured with a replica of it below).

Crowley then received a revelation himself.  He spoke with a being called Aiwass or Aiwaz who delivered a message to him which was for the whole of mankind.  This was written down and later published in ‘The Book of the Law’.  The key message was the Law of Thelema (or Will).  Aiwass said: “There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.” 

Crowley would return time and again to look at this Stele as he sought to understand the message he had received.  Replicas of the Stele (such as this one) are often placed on the altars of followers of Crowley and can be used in the Gnostic Mass. 

The Age of the New Aeon

With the revelation of the Book of the Law to Crowley, humankind entered a new age, the Age of the New Aeon (or Horus).  Crowley was told there had already been two ages: that of Isis (early history) when the Goddess was worshipped and that of Osiris (recent history) which had been dominated by the Father God and his demands for self sacrifice. 

The New Aeon of Horus concerns humankind’s finding their True Will and fulfilling the Great Work.  Crowley worked towards this for the remainder of his life “….to hell with Christianity, Rationalism, Buddhism, all the lumber of centuries.  I bring you a positive and primaeval fact, Magic by name; and with this I will build me a new Heaven and a new Earth.  I want none of your faint approval or faint dispraise; I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong.” 

Crowley later summarised his beliefs in a one page document called Liber Oz (below).

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Wood

The donor writes: 'The original is in the Cairo Museum of Antiquities, and played a key part in opening Aleister Crowley to information from his wife Rose that Horus wished to communicate with him, and subsequently to the delivery of The Book of the Law by Aiwas. I have made several copies, at least two of which are currently in use by the OTO as they are placed on the altar for the Gnostic Mass.'

The history of this object and its symbolism is enormous.  What follows is a summary.  For more on this object see Crowley's writings especially the Book of the Law.  

In 1904, Crowley’s wife, Rose, had a dream after which she kept hearing a voice saying “They are waiting for you.”  The couple then visited a Museum in Cairo and saw this Ancient Egyptian artefact.  Rose said to Crowley when she saw it, “There he is!” pointing at the image of Horus as Ra-Hoor-Khuit.  Crowley was astonished as the number of the exhibit was 666 (his number, the number of the Beast).  His wife had seen Horus in a dream and led Crowley to this artefact that was to become known as the Stele of Revealing (Crowley is pictured with a replica of it below).

Crowley then received a revelation himself.  He spoke with a being called Aiwass or Aiwaz who delivered a message to him which was for the whole of mankind.  This was written down and later published in ‘The Book of the Law’.  The key message was the Law of Thelema (or Will).  Aiwass said: “There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.” 

Crowley would return time and again to look at this Stele as he sought to understand the message he had received.  Replicas of the Stele (such as this one) are often placed on the altars of followers of Crowley and can be used in the Gnostic Mass. 

The Age of the New Aeon

With the revelation of the Book of the Law to Crowley, humankind entered a new age, the Age of the New Aeon (or Horus).  Crowley was told there had already been two ages: that of Isis (early history) when the Goddess was worshipped and that of Osiris (recent history) which had been dominated by the Father God and his demands for self sacrifice. 

The New Aeon of Horus concerns humankind’s finding their True Will and fulfilling the Great Work.  Crowley worked towards this for the remainder of his life “….to hell with Christianity, Rationalism, Buddhism, all the lumber of centuries.  I bring you a positive and primaeval fact, Magic by name; and with this I will build me a new Heaven and a new Earth.  I want none of your faint approval or faint dispraise; I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong.” 

Crowley later summarised his beliefs in a one page document called Liber Oz (below).