The Temple of Set was founded in 1975 by Michael Aquino along with breakaway members of the priesthood of the Church of Satan. In November 1990 Tim Maroney released an article entitled “The Nazi Trapezoid – Nazis and the Occult“. In this article Tim Maroney outlines allegations that the Temple of Set’s “Order of the Trapezoid” is dedicated to “Nazi Occultism”. In the article he states: “Aquino is known to have participated in black magical rituals at Wewelsburg Castle, set up as a place of occult working for the SS by Heinrich Himmler. Aquino counts Nazi occultism as one of his chief interests, and the heraldry and symbolism of the SS is one of his favorite topics of discussion.”
Michael Aquino’s own outline on the background of the Order can be found in Order of the Trapezoid – Statement which was published by the Temple of Set in January 1, 1990. The current website for the Order of the Trapezoid contains a more up to date history.
The webpage Order of the Trapezoid: Nazi? contains several indepth rebuttals of Tim Maroney’s claims. Perhaps the most basic statement is that: “It’s easy to believe that anyone employing the Germanic magikal techniques which the Nazis use is neo-Nazi in some secret contrivance.” This is logical, as an outsider (perhaps with a preconceived personal bias) could suggest a group or individual is neo-Nazi based simply the similarity or use of the same occult rituals, techniques and symbolism.
A further article entitled “‘Nazi Trapezoid’” debunked” further explains the incorrect statements and assumptions made in Tim Maroney’s original article.
Tags: neo-Nazism, Satanism, Temple of Set
