The Ancient Priest Who Inspired Modern Occultism

An obscure Egyptian priest named Ankh-ef-en-Khonsu became an unexpected icon of 20th-century mysticism. His funerary stele inspired a central text for a famous religious movement.

Living in Thebes over 2,500 years ago, this priest served the war god Montu with little fame during his lifetime. Centuries later, his ancient funerary tablet was rediscovered by an infamous occultist who claimed it contained secret spiritual messages. This transformed the priest into a central figure for the religion of Thelema. It is a strange fate for a man whose original legacy was merely to honor his gods in stone.