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."

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