The Baphomet is a name long associated with the Knights Templar. In the 19th century, the name became well known due to several publications of psuedo-history works that tried to link the Knights Templar with conspiracy theories detailing their suppression. Baphomet then came to be associated with the "Sabattic Goat" image drawn by Eliphas Levi.
The name Baphomet has been traced as far back to the crusades. King Phillip IV of France arrested a massive amount of French Templars, and had them tortured. The name Baphomet commonly comes up in their confessions, in reference to an idol they had worshiped.
The description of the object changed from confession to confession. Some Templars denied any knowledge of it. Others, under torture, described it as being either a severed head, a cat, or a head with three faces.
Baphomet is commonly referred to as Satan, but that is not altogether true, there is more hidden meaning.
But, as Levi's Baphomet image suggests, Baphomet is commonly portrayed as a synonym of Satan, or a demon.
The symbol of the goat in the downward-pointed pentagram was adopted as the official symbol — called the Sigil of Baphomet — of the Church of Satan, and continues to be used amongst Satanists.
Baphomet is also commonly referred to in Antichristian Death Metal. The blackened Death Metal band Behemoth has a song called the Horns ov Baphomet, which the lyrics go as such:
"Rise thy horns
For I'm at one with the dark
Divine presence ascends
Touching the forehead ov god
Hark! I was not, I have become
In rapture, in vengeance, in blood
From word into flesh
From man into god
"Strive ever to more"
So spake the wisdom ov snake
"Hold up thyself"
Sayeth the law ov the brave
Beyond all I am
Let it be known
Within my blood fire stirs
Thee I invoke, The Unspoken One
As the wolf among sheep yet cower I do not
Victorious, glorious, constantly thirsting
And as the anger fuels my heart and will
No longer fear that which feeble men fear
"No rest for conquerors!", Legions of Typhon Seth await
Conquering child ov Mars breathes out war formula
"Ain Soph Aur
Protect my ways
Enlighten my paths
Consume me with thy rays"
I, the heart ov Tiphareth is waiting
The centre and secret ov the Sun
I invoke the Sothis rites, as day and night I'm reborn
...We shall all be one with the flames, from above... "
Satan is a major aspect in Death Metal, and Baphomet is also a major aspect of the Knights Templar legends. Many questions still remain unanswered.
How did Baphomet come into being?
And why?
What is Baphomet?
Scholars try to answer these questions, but the truth may never be known.
The name Baphomet has been traced as far back to the crusades. King Phillip IV of France arrested a massive amount of French Templars, and had them tortured. The name Baphomet commonly comes up in their confessions, in reference to an idol they had worshiped.
The description of the object changed from confession to confession. Some Templars denied any knowledge of it. Others, under torture, described it as being either a severed head, a cat, or a head with three faces.
Baphomet is commonly referred to as Satan, but that is not altogether true, there is more hidden meaning.
But, as Levi's Baphomet image suggests, Baphomet is commonly portrayed as a synonym of Satan, or a demon.
The symbol of the goat in the downward-pointed pentagram was adopted as the official symbol — called the Sigil of Baphomet — of the Church of Satan, and continues to be used amongst Satanists.
Baphomet is also commonly referred to in Antichristian Death Metal. The blackened Death Metal band Behemoth has a song called the Horns ov Baphomet, which the lyrics go as such:
"Rise thy horns
For I'm at one with the dark
Divine presence ascends
Touching the forehead ov god
Hark! I was not, I have become
In rapture, in vengeance, in blood
From word into flesh
From man into god
"Strive ever to more"
So spake the wisdom ov snake
"Hold up thyself"
Sayeth the law ov the brave
Beyond all I am
Let it be known
Within my blood fire stirs
Thee I invoke, The Unspoken One
As the wolf among sheep yet cower I do not
Victorious, glorious, constantly thirsting
And as the anger fuels my heart and will
No longer fear that which feeble men fear
"No rest for conquerors!", Legions of Typhon Seth await
Conquering child ov Mars breathes out war formula
"Ain Soph Aur
Protect my ways
Enlighten my paths
Consume me with thy rays"
I, the heart ov Tiphareth is waiting
The centre and secret ov the Sun
I invoke the Sothis rites, as day and night I'm reborn
...We shall all be one with the flames, from above... "
Satan is a major aspect in Death Metal, and Baphomet is also a major aspect of the Knights Templar legends. Many questions still remain unanswered.
How did Baphomet come into being?
And why?
What is Baphomet?
Scholars try to answer these questions, but the truth may never be known.
A quote by Ephilis Levi, painter of a Baphomet image.
ON The Horns of Baphomet
"The goat on the frontispiece carries the sign of the pentagram on the forehead, with one point at the top, a symbol of light, his two hands forming the sign of hermetism, the one pointing up to the white moon of Chesed, the other pointing down to the black one of Geburah. This sign expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice. His one arm is female, the other male like the ones of the androgyn of Khunrath, the attributes of which we had to unite with those of our goat because he is one and the same symbol. The flame of intelligence shining between his horns is the magic light of the universal balance, the image of the soul elevated above matter, as the flame, whilst being tied to matter, shines above it. The beast's head expresses the horror of the sinner, whose materially acting, solely responsible part has to bear the punishment exclusively; because the soul is insensitive according to its nature and can only suffer when it materializes. The rod standing instead of genitals symbolizes eternal life, the body covered with scales the water, the semi- circle above it the atmosphere, the feathers following above the volatile. Humanity is represented by the two breasts and the androgyn arms of this sphinx of the occult sciences."
ON The Horns of Baphomet
"The goat on the frontispiece carries the sign of the pentagram on the forehead, with one point at the top, a symbol of light, his two hands forming the sign of hermetism, the one pointing up to the white moon of Chesed, the other pointing down to the black one of Geburah. This sign expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice. His one arm is female, the other male like the ones of the androgyn of Khunrath, the attributes of which we had to unite with those of our goat because he is one and the same symbol. The flame of intelligence shining between his horns is the magic light of the universal balance, the image of the soul elevated above matter, as the flame, whilst being tied to matter, shines above it. The beast's head expresses the horror of the sinner, whose materially acting, solely responsible part has to bear the punishment exclusively; because the soul is insensitive according to its nature and can only suffer when it materializes. The rod standing instead of genitals symbolizes eternal life, the body covered with scales the water, the semi- circle above it the atmosphere, the feathers following above the volatile. Humanity is represented by the two breasts and the androgyn arms of this sphinx of the occult sciences."
by All My Gods Have Failed Me March 15, 2008