Baphomet Symbolism

 The figure and symbolism associated with Baphomet—especially the iconic “Sabbatic Goat” image—has appeared in various forms across occultism, art, literature, popular culture, and even conspiracy theories since the 14th century. Below are some of the most notable examples and contexts where Baphomet imagery or references have surfaced throughout history and modern culture.

### Current Musicians and Superstars Associated with Baphomet Symbolism

Baphomet—a goat-headed, androgynous figure symbolizing duality, occult knowledge, and rebellion—continues to permeate modern music, often through album art, lyrics, performances, and visuals. While some artists embrace it explicitly in metal and occult genres, others face accusations via conspiracy theories about "hidden" symbolism in pop and hip-hop. Below, I highlight notable current (active as of 2025) musicians and superstars drawing on or linked to Baphomet imagery, based on recent releases, tours, and cultural discussions. I've focused on verified uses where possible, noting speculative claims for context.

#### Explicit Users in Metal and Occult Rock

These artists directly incorporate Baphomet as a motif, often as a symbol of anti-authority or esoteric themes.

1. **Behemoth (Nergal)**  

   Frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski's black metal band has long centered Baphomet in their aesthetic. Their 2014 album *The Satanist* features a Baphomet-inspired sigil on the cover, and the 2025 track "From the Pagan Vastlands" revives goat-headed ritual imagery in videos. Nergal performed a Baphomet homage at Wacken Open Air 2025, blending it with Polish folklore. As a superstar in extreme metal (headlining festivals worldwide), Behemoth's influence keeps the symbol alive in underground scenes.

2. **Ghost (Papa Emeritus)**  

   The Swedish rock band's masked, theatrical persona draws heavily from Baphomet's androgynous duality. Their 2025 album *Skeletá* includes tracks like "Dark Ritual" with inverted pentagrams and goat motifs echoing the Church of Satan's Sigil of Baphomet. Tobias Forge (as Papa) has cited Éliphas Lévi's original drawing as inspiration in 2024 interviews. Ghost's arena tours and Grammy wins make them a mainstream occult superstar.

3. **Marilyn Manson**  

   The shock-rock icon painted a watercolor of Baphomet in 2024, shared widely on social media, tying into his *We Are Chaos* era's alchemical themes. Despite controversies, Manson's 2025 tour promotes "Antichrist Superstar" redux with Baphomet projections, symbolizing personal rebirth. As a veteran superstar, his visual art keeps the symbol in pop culture discourse.

4. **The Mars Volta (Cedric Bixler-Zavala & Omar Rodríguez-López)**  

   Their 2006 track "Day of the Baphomets" remains a fan favorite, performed live in 2025 reunion shows with psychedelic visuals of horned figures. The prog-rock band's surrealism blends Baphomet with Aztec mythology, influencing their 2025 EP *Vigil*. As reunited superstars, they're headlining Coachella 2025.

#### Pop and Hip-Hop Stars with Accusations or Subtle Nods

These involve more interpretive or conspiratorial links, often from performances or visuals, amplified in 2024–2025 media.

5. **Lady Gaga**  

   At the 2025 Grammys, Gaga's "Abracadabra" performance featured Baphomet-like pentagrams, Abraxas roosters (a related occult symbol), and Crowley references, per occult analysts. Her Haus of Gaga collective has used goat-headed effigies in *Chromatica* tours (extended into 2025). Gaga, a pop superstar, denies satanism but embraces "witchy" aesthetics.

6. **The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye)**  

   Accused of satanic rituals in 2024–2025 tours, with stage setups including inverted crosses and shadowy goat figures evoking Baphomet. His *Dawn FM* follow-up visuals (2025) nod to duality themes. As a global superstar with sold-out stadiums, these elements fuel debates on his "After Hours" narrative.

7. **Beyoncé**  

   Ongoing conspiracy claims link her to Baphomet via "as above, so below" poses in *Cowboy Carter* (2024) visuals and 2025 tour staging with horned silhouettes. While unconfirmed, her Renaissance-era symbolism (e.g., mirrored duality) mirrors Baphomet's hermaphroditism. As the ultimate pop superstar, it's a staple in online discourse.

8. **Lil Nas X**  

   His 2025 single "J Christ 2.0" remix includes devilish choreography with Baphomet hand signs (index/middle fingers up, like horns). Building on *Montero*'s pole-dance-to-hell video, he trolls religious critics. A streaming giant and superstar, Nas X uses it for provocation.

9. **Doja Cat**  

   In 2025's *Scarlet 2* era, her "Demons" video remix features red-lit goat masks and pentagrams, tied to Baphomet by fans. Her Scarab tour (2025) includes ritualistic outfits. As a rap-pop superstar, she leans into "dark feminine" vibes without explicit endorsement.

10. **Sam Smith**  

    The 2025 Grammys performance of "Unholy" (with Kim Petras) revived 2023's controversial devil-horned staging, interpreted as Baphomet nods. Smith's non-binary themes align with the figure's androgyny. A chart-topping superstar, it's part of their cabaret evolution.

#### Emerging or Niche Mentions

- **Ice Spice**: Flashed alleged Baphomet signs at a 2025 Taylor Swift concert, sparking backlash (boos from crowd). As a rising rap superstar, it's tied to her Y2K aesthetic.

- **Samael & Grave Digger**: Swiss and German metal acts released 2025 tracks critiquing Baphomet misuse (e.g., Samael's "Baphomet's Throne" reissue), positioning it as anti-injustice symbol.

Baphomet's use spans rebellion (metal) to spectacle (pop), but much stems from fan theories—artists like Gaga or Beyoncé rarely confirm. Metal bands treat it reverently; pop stars, provocatively. For deeper dives, check Behemoth's *The Satanist* doc or Gaga's Grammy footage. If you want specifics on one artist, let me know!

### Historical & Occult Origins

1. **Knights Templar accusations (1307–1314)**  

   The earliest known association: during their trials, Templars were accused of worshipping a head called “Baphomet” (possibly a corruption of “Mahomet”). No surviving images from the trials, but the name stuck.

2. **Éliphas Lévi’s Sabbatic Goat (1856)**  

   The single most influential modern depiction. In his book *Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie*, French occultist Lévi drew the winged, goat-headed figure with a pentagram on the forehead, caduceus, torches, and the words “Solve” and “Coagula” on the arms. This is the template for almost all later Baphomet imagery.

3. **19th–20th century occult orders**  

   - Adopted by Stanislas de Guaita and Oswald Wirth (French occultism)  

   - Used in the taxil hoax “Palladian Freemasonry” hoax (1890s)  

   - Appears on the title page of Maurice Bessy’s *A Pictorial History of Magic and the Supernatural* (1964) based on Lévi

### 20th Century Occult & Magical Traditions

4. **Aleister Crowley & Thelema**  

   Crowley identified himself with Baphomet, became “To Mega Therion” (The Great Beast), and used the name as a magical title for high-degree initiates in O.T.O. The O.T.O. Gnostic Mass features a “Baphomet” as the central deity invoked.

5. **Church of Satan (1966–present)**  

   Anton LaVey adopted the Sigil of Baphomet (goat head inside an inverted pentagram, encircled with Hebrew letters spelling Leviathan) as the primary symbol of the Church of Satan. It appears on the cover of *The Satanic Bible* and is now the most widely recognized “Satanic” symbol worldwide.

6. **Temple of Set & other left-hand-path groups**  

   Many later Satanic or Luciferian organizations continue to use variants of the Sigil of Baphomet or Lévi’s figure.

### Popular Culture & Media

7. **Music**  

   - Album covers: Behemoth, Ghost, Watain, Dimmu Borgir, etc.  

   - Stage imagery: Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Mötley Crüe (used the Sigil of Baphomet on merchandise)  

   - Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” video (brief Baphomet-like horned figure)

8. **Film & Television**  

   - *The Devil Rides Out* (1968) – features Lévi’s Baphomet in a ritual scene  

   - *Hereditary* (2018) – statues and references to a goat-headed demon king  

   - *The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina* (Netflix) – the Dark Lord is depicted with Baphomet-style goat features  

   - *True Detective* Season 1 (2014) – antlered/crowned “Yellow King” imagery draws from similar occult archetypes

9. **Video Games**  

   - *Doom* series (Baphomet appears as a texture in the original 1993 game files)  

   - *Binding of Isaac* (frequent goat-headed demonic imagery)  

   - *Devil May Cry*, *Shin Megami Tensei*, etc.

10. **Fashion & Celebrity**  

    - Frequently worn by musicians (e.g., Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West accused by conspiracy circles)  

    - High fashion: Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy) used Baphomet stars and pentagrams in collections  

    - Streetwear brands and metal bands sell Baphomet shirts, patches, jewelry

### Architecture & Public Monuments

11. **The Satanic Temple’s Baphomet statue (2015–present)**  

    A 9-foot bronze statue depicting Baphomet enthroned with two children gazing up. Unveiled in Detroit, later used in protests at state capitols (Arkansas, Oklahoma, etc.) when Ten Commandments monuments were installed.

12. **Oklahoma State Capitol protest (2015)**  

    The Satanic Temple attempted to install the statue next to a Ten Commandments monument, sparking national controversy.

### Conspiracy & QAnon Culture

13. **Modern conspiracy lore**  

    Baphomet is routinely claimed to appear in:  

    - Corporate logos (Starbucks siren, old AOL logo, etc.)  

    - Washington, D.C. street layout (alleged pentagrams)  

    - Celebrity music videos and Super Bowl halftime shows  

    - “Elite occult rituals” (Pizzagate, QAnon, etc.)

### Summary of the Most Common Visual Elements

- Goat head with horns  

- Inverted pentagram on forehead or surrounding  

- Wings (bat-like)  

- Caduceus rising from the groin or between the horns  

- Breasts + phallus (androgyny)  

- Raised right arm (“Solve”) + lowered left arm (“Coagula”)  

- Torches or torch between horns  

- Seated cross-legged or enthroned  

- Children or admirers at the sides (in modern Satanic Temple version)

In short, what began as a medieval accusation against the Templars was transformed by Éliphas Lévi into the iconic goat-headed figure that has since become one of the most recognizable occult symbols in Western culture—embraced by occultists, weaponized by moral panics, and endlessly recycled in music, film, fashion, and internet conspiracy culture.