The famous Goat of Mendes was a composite creature formulated to symbolize astral light (universal life force, great magical agent). Also know as Baphomet. Baphomet is not a Christian devil but a symbol of the ancient Adepts (alchemist) representing Nature. It is a combination and balance of masculine and feminine energies, light and darkness.

Through out the ages the original meaning of Baphomet has gone through many changes.

The final transformation of Baphomet occurred in 1854. French ceremonial magician Elphias Levi re-imagined Baphomet into a figure he named the Sabbatic Goat. Representing the universe in the form of binary opposites, the Sabbatic Goat incorporates elements of the hermaphroditic stone Baphomets and the symbolic ideals of the Templar Baphomet myth. He mingled these elements with Occult, Kabbalistic and Catholic imagery.

The most unique and iconic element of Levi’s Baphomet is the head of a goat upon a humanoid body. The goat head was borrowed by Levi from the Kemetic goat-headed deity Banebdjedet, who represented the soul of Ausar. Levi was also inspired by Pan, another goat-headed god equated with primal worship and social taboos of the time. The overall impression of the Sabbatic Goat is very similar to that of the Devil card from Marseille Tarot, which may have been Levi’s template.

The Latin words on the Sabbatic Goat’s arms, COAGULA and SOLVE, mean to join together and take apart. These reference the powers claimed by Church leaders to be taken from God by his earthly representatives. In Levi’s context, these terms represent the dualistic power of magick that can be realized by any devout, initiated practitioner.

Today, the Baphomet in the form of Eliphas Levi’s Sabbatic Goat is one of the most recognizable occult images in the world, with strong ties to artistic and popular culture. It directly inspired the iconic Devil card from the Rider Waite Tarot system.

The Sigil of Baphomet, depicting the Sabbatic Goat within an inverted Pentagram, has been adopted as the modern Church of Satan’s logo. But this is not it’s original purpose or meaning.

With its long and deeply symbolic history, Baphomet is a powerful icon that garnishes fear and respect to this day. Baphomet has been transformed by time and culture into a rich icon of our modern occult heritage.