Baphomet

DemonNew Zealand · OceaniaLegendFear 9/10

Description

A demon from the folklore of New Zealand. Baphomet is a figure rooted within the occult and Western esoteric traditions.

Origin & Background

The name Baphomet first appeared in the mid-14th century, when members of the Knights Templar were accused of heresy for allegedly worshiping an idol of the demon Baphomet during their trials. This name first appeared in a letter by Anselm of the French Crusade in July 1098, related to the siege of Antioch. Later, in 1195, the name Bafometz appeared in a poem from Provence, and around 1250, the name Bafomet was used in a poem by Austorc de Aorlaque. It is said that the medieval order of knights, the Knights Templar, worshiped Baphomet as a deity, and references to Baphomet began to appear in trial records when many Templar knights were arrested and tortured by Philip IV of France in 1307.

The Legend

Baphomet is primarily depicted as a heretical and mystical being, and in the 19th century, a modern image was formed by Éliphas Lévi. In Lévi's 1856 work 'Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie', Baphomet is illustrated as a winged, androgynous human-goat hybrid, intended to represent a synthesis of dualistic oppositions to signify perfect balance. This Baphomet is widely used as a symbol of mysticism, representing the harmony of opposites, mystical knowledge, and the totality of the universe.

In Popular Culture

Since the 19th century, Baphomet has become an important symbol in popular culture. Following Éliphas Lévi's depiction, Baphomet has been used in various mystical and occult traditions, further developed by figures such as Aleister Crowley. Crowley described Baphomet as a divine androgyne, playing a significant role in his mystical system of Thelema. Baphomet also appears in various modern literary works and films, often depicted as a demonic entity.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Baphomet" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia