This article was co-authored by Sydney Bermudez and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Sydney Bermudez is a horror content creator and Mexican folklore and urban legends expert. Sydney is a storyteller, who crafts engaging narratives that explore paranormal cases, internet mysteries, and psychological horror. She shares content on TikTok and Instagram to over 400k followers. Sydney specializes in horror storytelling, Mexican folklore, creepy pastas and urban legends, and is interested in how horror intersects with pop culture, social media trends, and modern myth-making. Her videos have received over 12 million likes on TikTok, with some videos reaching over 10 million views.
There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
You’ve probably seen pentagrams and upside-down crosses, but there are many other symbols that are closely related to Satanism. Satanism may have a bad rap, but many of its most prominent symbols actually promote positive beliefs. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most popular Satanic symbols and explain what they mean, with help from urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez and tarot reader, astrologer, and intuitive psychic Paige Ferris. Plus, we’ve compiled some cool Satanic-inspired copy-and-paste emojis for your social media bio.
Common Satanic Symbols
According to urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez, the pentagram is one of the most recognizable symbols of Satanism in pop culture. Other notable Satanic symbols include:
- Baphomet: a deity with the head of a goat, the body of a man, and large wings
- The inverted cross: a symbol of defiance against religious authority
- The Leviathan cross: an alchemical symbol now used to represent human autonomy
- The Sigil of Lucifer: a symbol that represents Lucifer as “light-bringer”
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Satanic Symbols & Their Meanings
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Baphomet Baphomet is one of the most notable symbols of Satanism. According to Bermudez, “[Baphomet is] usually represented as a goat headed figure sitting with wings and symbolic gestures. It’s become a kind of pop culture shorthand for ‘Satanic,’ though in reality its origins are more complicated and tied to 19th-century imagery rather than ancient Satanism.”[1] He is an invented deity and most Satanists do not believe in or worship Baphomet; they view him as a metaphorical symbol.[2]
- Most depictions of Baphomet feature similar elements, and each artistic element represents one or more of Satanism’s core beliefs. We’ll discuss many of these elements in more detail below.
Meet the wikiHow Experts
Sydney Bermudez is an urban legends expert and horror content creator who explores paranormal cases and psychological horror. She shares content with over 400k followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Paige Ferris is a Tarot Reader, Astrologer, and Intuitive Psychic with over 6 years of experience. She specializes in practical occultism and psychological astrology.
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The Inverted Cross Bermudez notes, “Another [symbol] you see a lot [in urban legends] is the inverted cross, even though historically it had a very different meaning. It’s often used in horror stories and movies as a symbol of evil.”[3] While the inverted (or upside-down) cross is actually a Christian symbol, it has long been associated with Satanism. According to legend, St. Peter requested to be crucified on an inverted cross because he felt unworthy to die the same way Jesus did.[4]
- However, today, the inverted cross is often a symbol of anti-Christian sentiment and rebellion, and many Satanists have embraced it as a symbol of defiance against religious authority.
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The Leviathan Cross The Leviathan cross, also known as the sulfur cross, consists of a two-barred cross (the cross of Lorraine) with an infinity symbol at the bottom. The symbol was initially used in alchemy to represent sulfur, a substance associated with the human soul.[5] Anton LaVey, the founder of modern Satanism, later adopted the symbol as a representation of Satanism’s belief in human autonomy and self-determination.
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666 In the Bible, 666 is referred to as the “Number of the Beast” in the Book of Revelation, and it’s often associated with evil and the devil.[6] In general, Satanists don’t believe numbers have special meanings or powers, but many of them embrace the number and use it to get a reaction out of Christians.
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The Sigil of Lucifer The Sigil of Lucifer, or the Seal of Satan, is a symbol used in Satanic rituals that dates back to the 16th century. It consists of an upside-down triangle with an X through it and a V underneath. The symbol is believed to represent Lucifer as the “light-bringer,” which symbolizes knowledge, enlightenment, and rebellion.[7]
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The Sigil of Baphomet The Sigil of Baphomet is the official emblem of the Church of Satan. It consists of a goat head inside an upside-down pentagram and is flanked by the Hebrew letters of the word “Leviathan.” It symbolizes the fusion of opposites, carnality, materiality, and the rebellious philosophy of Satanism.[8]
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Two-Finger Salute The two-finger salute is a gesture that involves raising one hand with two fingers pointing upward and lowering the other hand with two fingers pointing downward. Ferris says the salute “symbolizes the phrase ‘As above, so below.’ It’s about the mirroring of the internal and external world—what’s happening within you will be reflected in your outer life.”[9] It represents the harmony between opposites, like heaven and earth or dark and light, and is often depicted in Satanic art, including the Baphomet statue.
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Two Young Children Statues of Baphomet often include two children standing on either side, which symbolize innocence and purity in contrast with the adult Baphomet. The children represent the duality of male and female, as well as the idea of learning and growing without indoctrination.
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The Caduceus Baphomet is sometimes depicted with the caduceus on his stomach. The caduceus is an ancient Greek symbol that consists of two serpents intertwined around a staff with wings.[10] In a Satanic context, the caduceus symbolizes the reconciliation of opposites, like the coexistence of Satanic and Christian ideologies, suggesting that opposing forces can exist in harmony.
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Breasts and Gender Duality The original depiction of Baphomet included female breasts to represent the duality of gender. In Satanic philosophy, the concept of dualism is a key theme, and all genders are equally valued and celebrated.
- Not all depictions of Baphomet have breasts. Some depictions include a male and female child to represent gender duality instead.
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Pentagrams Bermudez says, “When it comes to common ‘Satanic’ symbols in urban legends, the pentagram is probably the one people think of first, especially the inverted version, which is often tied to pop culture depictions of Satanism.”[11] Pentagrams aren’t inherently Satanic, but they’re often associated with Satanism, especially by outsiders. Upright pentagrams traditionally represent the five elements (earth, air, water, fire, and spirit), though Satanists sometimes use an upside-down pentagram to represent a rejection of conventional religious norms.[12]
- Satanists say that the pentagram encourages people to explore new perspectives and challenge their worldviews.[13]
- Upright pentagrams are more commonly used as pagan or witchcraft symbols.
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Torch Between Horns Baphomet is often depicted with a torch or flame between his horns. This torch symbolizes the pursuit of intellectual enlightenment. It relates to both knowledge and the soul, as well as the importance of personal growth, self-awareness, and the seeking of the truth.
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Goats Though not directly mentioned in the Bible, many Christians associate goats with the devil, and many Satanists have since adopted them (and Baphomet) as a symbol of rebellion. The belief that goats are Satanic may have originated from the demonization of pagan gods, such as Pan.[14] Goats are also historically stubborn and rebellious animals.
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The Anton LaVey Sigil The Anton LaVey sigil consists of a pentagram and a lightning bolt and was designed in the 1970s to represent the office of the High Priest of the Church of Satan. The church’s founder, Anton LaVey, often wore the symbol as a pendant, and it gained nationwide exposure after he was photographed wearing it for LOOK magazine.[15]
Expert Q&A
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Tips
References
- ↑ Sydney Bermudez. Urban Legends Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baphomet
- ↑ Sydney Bermudez. Urban Legends Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.christianity.com/wiki/cults-and-other-religions/what-does-an-upside-down-cross-mean.html
- ↑ https://religionfacts.com/sulphur-cross
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-of-the-beast
- ↑ https://darktemples.com/the-sigil-of-luciferseal-of-satan/
- ↑ https://churchofsatan.com/history-sigil-of-baphomet/
- ↑ Paige Ferris. Tarot Reader, Astrologer, and Intuitive Psychic. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/caduceus
- ↑ Sydney Bermudez. Urban Legends Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/pentagram
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/pentagram
- ↑ https://www.postaugustum.com/en/farwell-pan-the-rise-of-satan-in-christian-imagery-2/
- ↑ https://churchofsatan.com/anton-lavey-sigil/
- ↑ https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/pacifists-guide-satanism