Is Baphomet a Christian demon or a pagan deity?

Tattoo Baphomet

Tattoo Baphomet

Tattoo Baphomet In most people is not the most joyful associations: misunderstanding, fear, anger, disgust, the range of emotions is quite wide. The inverted pentagram with the head of a goat inscribed in it, the so-called Baphomet seal, is perceived by us as a symbol of Satanism. In this we are undoubtedly right. But where did this symbol come from? Do we understand Satanism correctly? If Satanism is a violent, bloody religion based on everything that is against God, why do people follow it and put its symbols on their bodies? And what, then, is the meaning of the tattoo of Baphomet?

Mentions in various sources

Baphomet is considered one of the main inhabitants of the Underworld. Information about it can be found in ancient sources, in mythology. For the first time the name of this creature was mentioned in a letter of the crusader Anselm Ribmon, written in 1098.

Demon is directly linked with the events of 1307, when the high-profile trial against the Order of the Knights Templar was held. Then the Holy Inquisition investigated the case of knights worshiping him and conducting secret rituals. As a result, all members of the cult were accused of heresy, the head of the Order Jacques de Molay and other leaders of the movement were burned at the stake, while the rest managed to escape. It is not known exactly where the knightly order got the image of Baphomet. According to legend, it was handed to the Templars by Satan himself.

During the following centuries, Baphomet was hardly remembered. Several centuries after the Templar trial, his image appeared in the French occultist Eliphas Levy's book Dogma and Rituals of Higher Magic. He also depicted him on the 15th arcana of the Tarot deck. For this, the magician chose the card corresponding to the devil.

The worship of Baphomet is quite widespread in modern society. It is claimed that the cult of the demon flourishes among representatives of show business, in the financial sector, in Hollywood.

The meaning of the tattoo Baphomet

Tattoo Baphomet can indicate libertarian views, non-conformism, unwillingness to obey the rules of public morality. A person who selected this image, guided only by his own judgments, the opinion of society for it does not matter, he is free to live as he sees fit.

Baphomet tattoo

Tattoo Baphomet

Double Baphomet tattoo

Double Tattoo Baphomet

It turns out that Satanism, if we take it as a philosophy rather than a religious cult, is a belief in self, elevating selfishness to the rank of a virtue, singing individuality, denying the need for control over the individual by society and the church.

Tattoo Baphomet on his leg

Tattoo of a Baphomet on the leg

Baphomet tattoo

Baphomet tattoo

The gravest sin for Satanists is stupidity, formulaic thinking, and the inability to form one's own independent opinions. The Baphomet tattoo's owners wholeheartedly despise these qualities. Above all they put their own judgment, independence, education, breadth of vision and faith in their own abilities.

Baphomet tattoo on his shoulder

Tattoo Baphomet on the Shoulder

Buffoon tattoo - photo

Tattoo Baphomet - photo

Bloody orgies, human sacrifices, pacts with the devil - all this has nothing to do with modern Satanism and is nothing more than the fiction of filmmakers and writers. Although Anton LaVey did encourage his followers to participate in orgies. In his opinion, this was to facilitate the release of repressed sexuality, which is one of the strongest aspects of the human condition. But no one has ever died from it, as we know.

The meaning and origin of the name

There is no exact information about the origin of the word "Baphomet." Many believe that it is one of several names of the Devil.

It is interesting to know the following:

  • The inscription "Baphomet," read from right to left, becomes "temohpab." When turned upside down, it becomes an acronym, the first letters of which carry a special phrase in Latin: "Templi omnium hominum pacis abbas". This expression is translated as "abbot of the Temple of peace of all men;
  • The word "Baphomet" can be written in Hebrew and then transformed by the special method of atbash. The result would be the Greek word "Sophia," which means "wisdom.

The most common version claims that the word "Baphomet" is a distorted version of the name Mohammed. This is the name of the prophet, long revered in Islam.

Alternative theories

However, there are other theories regarding the origin of the name. An alternative explanation may be that the name Baphomet comes from the Greek baphe metous, that is, literally translated "baptism of wisdom," which connects it with the Gnostics. There is also a theory of the origin of the name Baphomet from a distorted Arabic expression "Abu Fihamat," which means "father of wisdom." The symbol itself, like its name, has no unambiguous explanation. However, there are dozens of strange, mystical references to it in the ancient world. Horned gods are often found in ancient mythology.

Appearance of the demon

Baphomet looks unusual and terrifying. His appearance is a combination of feminine and masculine traits, for which reason the demon is considered an androgynous (bisexual) creature.

The representative of the dark forces possesses:

  • a goat's head with horns and a burning pentagram in the middle of its forehead;
  • a woman's breast, symbolizing motherhood;
  • the torso, indicating the presence of masculinity;
  • a belly covered with scales;
  • two huge dark wings;
  • bifurcated hooves resting on the globe.

external view

On his head, the demon carries a lighted candle. His feet hold a staff, around which snakes coil. On either side of Baphomet are crescents (the white represents good, and the dark represents evil). The inscriptions on the demon's hands are the famous motto of the alchemists "Solve et Coagula", which is translated from Latin as "dissolve and thicken".

Baphomet's hands are folded in gestures, each with its own meaning. One of them demonstrates the "goat," or "devil's horns. The other calls for liberation, which is offered to all followers of Satan.

The symbol of the modern Church of Satan

In the twentieth century, Baphomet became the main symbol of the Church of Satan, which was founded by Anton Shandor LaVey (Black Pope). In 1969, this occult organization developed its own sign, which included the image of the demon. It is an inverted pentagram (five-pointed rectangle) with a goat's head. The symbol was based on an illustration from Maurice Bassey's book An Illustrated History of Magic and the Supernatural.

The sign, or seal of Baphomet, assigned to Satanists has the following features:

  • The image of the goat is inscribed inside the pentagram and encircled by two circles;
  • In front of each of the rays of the star is the Hebrew inscription "Leviathan," denoting the name of the mythical sea monster, the demon of greed and the adversary of God.

In 1972 Anton Shandor LaVey's widely acclaimed work Satanic Rituals was published. Its cover was decorated with the symbolism of Baphomet's head. After that, this symbol changed its status and became known as the seal.

Today the symbol of the Church of Satan, which is based on the image of Baphomet, is used widely enough. It is present on all the attributes associated with the activities of this organization, and is also present on the products of the brand, which was created by the worshippers of the dark forces.

Baphomet in a tattoo

For tattoos mostly choose the seal of Baphomet - an inverted pentagram with the head of a goat, the deity in full height can be seen very rarely.

As the image itself implies complete freedom of its bearer, such a tattoo knows no gender differences and occurs equally often, both among men and women. Basically the image of Baphomet is applied on the chest, less often - on the shoulder or back. Monochrome tattoos with the Satanic deity are much more popular than colored ones.

Interesting and original look work in the style of tattoo graphics. Many believe that it includes all black and white tattoos, but this is fundamentally wrong. The essence of the graphics is that the tattoo uses only black, no shades of gray and transitions. Shadows are depicted by shading, which creates the necessary volume.

If you still want to paint Baphomet, check out the new skool works. They are bright, memorable, and eye-catching. Such a work clearly will not go unnoticed, because it combines the incongruous: dark, gloomy and intimidating image of Baphomet with bright eye-catching colors.

What is the Tarot Baphomet

The Baphomet Tarot is one of the most unusual card decks used for divination. Its creator was the mysterious Swiss artist Hans Rudy Giger. That's why the second name of the cards is Giger's tarot.

The deck, consisting of 22 arcana, is considered a magical attribute. It is often called "shadowy" because it helps to reveal the most secret movements of the human soul, reveal carefully concealed passions and desires.

The Baphomet Tarot is not used by ordinary fortune tellers to clarify domestic issues. It is used by blackseekers in occult rituals, in order to simulate a certain situation and evoke the desired emotions.

A monument to a demon in the United States

The members of the Church of Satan do not limit themselves to holding secret rituals and praising their powerful idol. They have a fairly active life stance and periodically participate in public life, which attracts a lot of attention.

In July 2015, under the leadership of the Satanist Temple organization, a monument to Baphomet was erected in the United States. The Devil's followers defended their right to erect it as a result of a lawsuit. The statue looks like a 2.7-meter-high, 1-tonne bronze image of the demon against a large pentagram. Baphomet is surrounded by a boy and a girl who look at him devotedly.

monument

The unusual monument is erected in Detroit, which is home to the largest number of American followers of Satanism, according to statistics. For the installation of the composition was chosen a place where it is well visible - near the Arkansas State Capitol.

The event was positioned as the largest coven in history. Those wishing to attend the ceremony in Detroit were charged $25, and to be in the VIP area, they had to pay triple that. Despite widespread publicity, the event did not become a mass event and attracted only about 200 people.

According to members of the Church of Satan, the current location of the Baphomet statue is temporary. Another site is being sought for the monument's permanent location. Future plans are to move it to Oklahoma City, where the monument to the Ten Commandments was previously located.

Modernity and the Goat Idol

The Church of Satan, created by Baphomet worshippers in 1966 in San Francisco, adopted another image of Baphomet as a sign of Satanism. It is rather specific.

Who is Baphomet

This symbol is the head of a terrifying goat inserted into an inverted five-pointed star, which in turn is in a double circle. On the outer circumference there are Hebrew letters, which are on the edges of the pentagram and denote the name of Leviathan - a large oceanic monster-like serpent, which is essentially similar to the devil. In rituals and processions in the Church of Satan, the symbol of Baphomet is attached to the wall behind the altar. For the followers of this cult, Baphomet is the supreme being.

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