The Demon Stolas ( Solas ) is a Fallen Angel and 36th of the 72 Spirits of Solomon. Stolas is a powerful prince who appears first as a raven or an owl and then as a man. He teaches astronomy and the virtues of herbs, including prophecy through plants3 and the uses of precious stones. He governs 26 Legions of Demons.
Stolas, sometimes also written as Stolos or Solas, is one of the more scholarly and contemplative spirits of the Goetic hierarchy. Unlike many demons associated with warfare, seduction or domination, Stolas is primarily linked with knowledge of the natural and celestial worlds. His connection with astronomy places him among spirits who reveal the hidden order of the heavens, while his knowledge of herbs and stones connects him to the older magical idea that plants, minerals and stars are bound together through secret correspondences.
In occult interpretation, Stolas may be understood as a spirit of hidden wisdom within nature itself. His raven or owl form is symbolically important: both birds are associated with night, omens, intelligence and the ability to perceive what others cannot see. This gives Stolas a liminal character, standing between the earthly and the celestial, the natural and the supernatural. For practitioners and students of demonology, he represents not crude evil, but the older and more complex idea of the demon as a keeper of forbidden, specialised or esoteric knowledge.
From “The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King” (1904) Written by S.L. MacGregor Mathers
STOLAS, or STOLOS. – The Thirty-sixth Spirit is Stolas, or Stolos. He is a Great and Powerful Prince, appearing in the Shape of a Mighty Raven atfirst before the Exorcist; but after he taketh the image of a Man. He teacheth the Art of Astronomy, and the Virtues of Herbs and Precious Stones. He governeth 26 Legions of Spirits; and his Seal is this, which is, etc.
From Demonologia :
As Collin de Plancy correctly illustrates, “nightraven” is another term for owl. The version of the Goetia used by Mathers reduces this to just “raven,”in the process destroying the sense of the text.
From the “Pseudomonarchia Daemonum” ( 1583 ) Written by Johann Weyer (Johann Wier)
Stolas is a great prince, appearing in the forme of a nightraven, before the exorcist, he taketh the image and shape of a man, and teacheth astronomie, absolutelie understanding the vertues of herbes and pretious stones; there are under him twentie six legions.
Original Text :
Stolas magnus Princeps: prodit forma nycticoracis: coram exorcista hominis simulachrum suscipit, docetque absolutè astronomiam. Herbarum and lapidum pretiosorum vires intelligit. Vigintisex legiones huic subjacent.
From the “Dictionnaire Infernal” (edition of 1863 ) Written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy
Stolas is a high prince of hell commanding 26 legions. He appears as an owl or as a man who teaches astronomy, the properties of plants, and the worth of precious stones.
Original Text:
Stolas, grand prince des enfers, qui apparaît sous la forme d’un hibou ; lorsqu’il prend celle d’un homme et qu’il se montre devant l’exorciste, il enseigne l’astronomie, ainsi que les propriétés des plantes et la valeur des pierres précieuses.
Vingt-six légions le reconnaissent pour général.
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