XXXVII - STOLAS

37 - Stolas - Appears in The Discoverie of Witchcraft, The Book of Spirits, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, The Lesser Key of Solomon, and Dictionnaire Infernal

From Discoverie / Pseudomonarchia

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.

From the Lesser Key

The Thirty-sixth Spirit is Stolas, or Stolas. He is a Great and Powerful Prince, appearing in the Shape of a Mighty Raven at first 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 the Book of Spirits

Stolas, magnus princeps, 26 lég. W69.

Appearance: A man and a great raven.

Subrace: Fallen Power.

Abilities: Astronomy, Knowledge of Herbs and Stones. 

Legions: 26

Rank: Prince

Notes: Dictionaire Infernal says he looks like an owl not like a raven which, despite my dislike of De Plancy, I am inclined to agree with. 

Strange how the princes are described as being of good humor with humans, or at the very least not antagonistic. A deception I am sure. It is rare a demon has anything but idle curiosity with a mortal. However, if there is any demon in this text that has been proven agreeable with mortals, it is stolas. Dozens of credible accounts from summonings paint the prince as akin to a stuffy professor, and repeatedly tied to the pursuit of knowledge. 

Some might speculate that stolas has a role akin to the keeper of Hells national library, but from the lack of references to other demons in their relationship with the princes, I would speculate that they are a sort of parallel structure to the Kings, but rather than acting as ministers to the various arms of the infernal state, it is possible the Princes may act as advisors to the infernal cabinet, or if we continue with the cardinal sin theory, they hold dominion over their particular sin. 

This is also where the cardinal sin theory begins to fall apart. Envy, Lust, Greed, and Pride, all fit neatly beneath the first four princes, but the remaining three seem tenuous at best. Sloth makes sense under Seir if you stretch it enough, but how gluttony or wrath would fit under Stolas I do not know. The only thing I could think of would be that Stolas is somehow connected with an overabundance of knowledge, tying him to Gluttony. I will have to return to this. I can’t help but feel that I am missing some critical piece of the larger picture. 

Brand of Gluttony -  ??