Baphomet is a deity allegedly worshipped by the Knights Templar that subsequently became incorporated into various occult and mystical traditions. The name Baphomet appeared in trial transcripts for the Inquisition of the Knights Templar starting in 1307. It first came into popular English usage in the 19th century during debate and speculation on the reasons for the suppression of the Templars.

Since 1856, the name Baphomet has been associated with the "Sabbatic Goat" image drawn by Éliphas Lévi, which contains binary elements representing the "symbolization of the equilibrium of opposites" (e.g. half-human and half-animal, male and female, good and evil, etc.). On one hand, Lévi's intention was to symbolize his concept of balance that was essential to his magnetistic notion of the Astral Light; on the other hand, the Baphomet represents a tradition that should result in a perfect social order.

 

Decoding the symbols:

The best-known modern image of Baphomet was drawn in 1856 by the French occultist Eliphas Levi, in his book Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual.

He envisaged a winged hermaphrodite with a torch between his horns and a pentagram on his forehead.

Its arms bore the Latin words SOLVE (separate) and COAGULA (join together) - the powers of "binding and loosing" usurped from God.

Levi's drawing was the inspiration for the Satanic Temple's new monument.

It contains all these binary opposites - above and below, part animal, part human. Male and Female.

It embodies opposites and celebrates contrasts.

Two Fingers, Two fingers on the right hand point up and two on the left hand point down, meaning "as above, so below".

The Caduceus, On the Baphomet's stomach is an old Greek symbol of two serpents entwined around a staff - the staff which was carried by Hermes and heralds in general. The caduceus symbolises trade, negotiation and reciprocity and was co-opted into the Baphomet by Levi. Also symbolises reconciliation of the opposites.

Breasts, Levi's Baphomet was a hermaphrodite, with breasts, "male-female dualism".

Pentagram, The Sign of the Pentagram on Baphomet's forehead is a symbol of the astral light. "The empire of will over the Astral Light, which is the physical soul of the four elements, is represented in Magic by the Pentagram." Lévi elaborates on the nature of the pentagram: The Pentagram signifies the domination of the mind over the elements, and the demons of air, the spirits of fire, the phantoms of water and the ghosts of earth are enchained by this sign. Equipped therewith, and suitably disposed, you may behold the infinite through the medium of that faculty which is like the soul's eye, and you will be ministered unto by legions of angels and hosts of fiends. The "soul's eye" is the Ajna chakra or third eye, which allows you to see and interact with the invisible spirits (angels and fiends) of the astral light, thus the pentagram is placed over the third eye of Baphomet. Likewise, the torch of intelligence burning above the pentagram corresponds with the crown chakra.

Torch between horns, The torch of knowledge is the middle horn - it glorifies the pursuit of knowledge.

Baphomet is not a god, devil, or a living being, he is the sign or symbol of initiation. But what knowledge does this symbol of initiation impart to us? In the introduction to Doctrine in Transcendental Magic, Lévi identifies Baphomet with a force he calls the Universal Agent: "There exists in Nature a force which is immeasurably more powerful than steam, and a single man, who is able to adapt and direct it, might change thereby the face of the world."

 

🜏 Leviathan Cross

The Leviathan Cross is sometimes referred to the cross of Satan, which means the "Satans Cross". Depicted on the bottom is an infinity sign (∞), and above is a double cross (‡). The Double cross symbolizes protection and balance between persons. The infinity sign underlines the constant and infinite nature and most likely symbolizes the eternal universe, this may have been used by Anton LaVey in The Satanic Bible to as a mockery of the cross, to show that humans are their own centrum of balance, and truth. This is what the ideology of Anton LaVey and the followers of the Church of Satan believe, and this is what this symbol represents in this association.

 

An upside-down crucifix is also a symbol embraced by Satanists. That confuses some people as it is seen as the Petrine Cross or "The Cross of St. Peter" since, according to Origin of Alexandria, Simon Peter was crucified upside down. However, turning a symbol like a cross upside-down is symbolic on it's own and the interpretation of doing so differs among Catholics and Satanists.

 

In Alchemy, the Leviathan's cross is a symbol for sulfur, which is one the three essential elements of nature. In Asia, its name is the Brimstone Symbol.

 

The association with the Leviathan makes it a symbol of depth and surfacing. The multiple crossroads of two crosses can be interpreted as a sign of free choice, it can also be seen as a stroke-through "equal-to" (=) to show that every person has their own life.

 

Sulfur (“Leviathan Cross”) A symbol for the alchemical element Sulfur, (Brimstone) which is spiritually analogous to the human soul. Alchemically, sulfur has the qualities of masculine, hot and dry. Combined with Mercury (feminine, cool and moist), the pair were considered the parents of all metals.

 

Alchemical drawings often portray Sulfur as the sun. (In some views, sulfur and salt are the parents of Mercury) The symbol of sulfur is often used as an identifying symbol by Satanists, due to sulfur’s historical association with the devil.

 

This glyph is often referred to incorrectly as the “pontifical cross of Satan” by Christian tract writers, due to its adoption as an emblem of Satanism by Anton LaVey in the 1960s. The emblem has no history as a symbol of Satanism outside of LaVey’s usage, and the attribution is most likely a product of anti-Catholic sentiment, as it is often compared in this context to the Catholic Pontifical Cross. A more common symbol for sulfur is a fire triangle surmounting a cross of earth.

 

🜏 Origins

 

The Leviathan Cross was created by The Knights Templar. The symbol was then adopted by Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan. Previous associations with the cross and Satanic foundations are unable to be identified.

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