The Templar Baphomet

Baphomet (or Bafomet) is one of the most controversial figures, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its origins are still confusing today, and today it has a popular meaning completely different from its original meaning.

What does Baphomet mean?

Let's start with its name. It is mentioned for the first time in a testimony of the ecclesiastical accusations against the Templars in 1307, as "un figuran bafometti". It is treated at that time as an idol that the Templars would have worshipped, and it does not seem to be an unknown term at that time, since no explanation is given about it.

According to some philologists and historians, the name could come from a misinterpretation (perhaps deliberately by the accusers) of the name of Muhammad, in French (that of most Templars) pronounced as Mahomet. Idries Shah (1964) believes that it actually came from Abufihamat, which in Arabic means "wise father" or "father of wisdom." Likewise, there are those who have pointed out that in the medieval poem Cantar de Mío Cid, Muhammad is mentioned as Mafomat.

Other later sources point to a pagan and Gnostic origin, since there is evidence of the multiple trips of the Templars, as well as their contacts with various religious, philosophical and mystical groups of the Mediterranean and North Africa, especially with the Ismailis. However, although part of the mysticism and philosophy could be shared, the fact that it became a figure with a physical form completely breaks with the possibility that the origin of the idol as such is Muslim, since Islam is a religion that forbids figurative representation.

The horned gods have always been venerated as protectors of fertility and strength, as can be seen in Greco-Roman folklore. In this way, one thinks of the port of Baphos, in Cyprus, where perhaps some Greek cult, hidden from Christianity, might have survived. Various Egyptian divinities have also been proposed, such as Ptah, and others, due to their ending in -et. The closest to the image and name of Baphomet would be the ram god Banebdyedet (from which comes the name of Baphomet as "Goat of Mendes", by the way, because this was his region).

Associations have been sought in the Greek language, such as Bios -phos -metis, "life, light, wisdom". Another reconstruction would be Baphé -metéous, that is, Baptism of wisdom.

This is one of the favorite proposals of those who know that the Templars were fervent worshipers of Saint John the Baptist. Thus, Baphé-metéous would unite the act of baptism/initiation with Gnostic knowledge. There are those who say that bap- is clearly an indication of Baptista by John, and -homet, an Arabic or Egyptian addition (as John Carpentier (19th century) believed, joining Bap- (Ma)homet).

The authors of the 20th century will look for meanings that, to the taste of many, are too far-fetched. For example, Fulcanelli, an expert in alchemy, looks for the relationship with bapheus, the alchemical inkwell, which paints (mutates) silver into gold. The theologian Schonfield (1983) applied Atbash gematria to the name of Baphomet in Hebrew, and concluded that it hid the Greek word Sophia, wisdom.

Appearance of Baphomet

Strictly speaking, we can only sketch out a similar appearance to the goat and symbol of Eliphas Levis, which is the most widespread image today. From the Templar testimonies we can extract few clear things, among them, that the 'idol' was a head, according to some with three faces, according to others with horns, but always bearded. It has been hypothesized that it was a relic, of the head of Saint John the Baptist or that of Hugues de Paynes, founder of the order, following a testimony in which this is hypothesized. Others think that it was an ancient sculpture of Asmodeus, the demon who helped Solomon to build the Temple from which the Order took its name.

Later scholars have wanted to see representations of Baphomet demons distributed throughout all the cathedrals in which the Templars intervened in their architecture. Batfroi (1981) suggested that, by comparing the representations of bearded heads in France and England, it could be thought that the "painted" Baphomet was actually a representation of the Holy Shroud with the face of Christ.

But the testimonies vary, and in some areas of southern Italy it was said to be a black cat, in other places in the East, it was a calf, and even a figure of a golden Virgin. Above all, from the confessions extracted it can be deduced that it was a "head", with several faces or bearded, and that there was probably more than one, spread over various territories, each with certain differentiated attributes (such as the material, which is sometimes gold, other times silver, wood or simply painted on a wall, etc.)

The testimony of a Templar indicates that it has four feet, which has been interpreted as a four-legged pedestal for the figure. We can deduce that whatever it was, the figure was kept, covered or hidden, in some dark place, and that the true group that knew about this "original" Baphomet were mainly French circles, since that is where the testimonies coincided the most. However, the variety of places where the testimonies mention, even in passing, the supposed idol, show that it really was an open secret, and even then, never fully revealed.

The Templar Jean Cassanhas left us some key words to understand that the Baphomet had a religious and philosophical meaning. Despite being a "demonic" head, his superiors would have told him: <<Here is a friend of God who converses with God when he wants. Thank him for having led you to this Order as you wished>>

Eliphas Levi was responsible for giving it the appearance we know today, with all the symbolism and dualism that it entails. However, we can deduce that part of this symbolism and dualism was already present in the mysterious Templar Baphomet. For example, testimonies speak of a head, sometimes with several faces, sometimes bearded and sometimes not. It could be, some believe, that the idol had a male and female face. The story transmitted by Daniel Rejú (1979) had some echo in which an androgynous, bearded and horned wooden effigy was found in a Celtic oracular cave, with one arm pointing upwards and the other downwards. This effigy was lost, but based on semi-legendary testimony, many consider that it could be a nature divinity, or that the horns were not such, but the half moon of the Celtic and Phoenician goddesses.

In any case, Levi adds the rest of the symbols, taken from various sources, and creates with his Baphomet an image that brings together all the alchemical and cabalistic symbolisms to the supposed image of the Templar idol.

Levi literally proposes that: 

<< (...) Now, all natural phenomena depend on a single and immutable law, represented by the philosopher's stone and, especially, by its symbolic form, which is the cube. (...) At the head of a French translation of a book by Mr. de Nuisement, on philosophical salt, the spirit of the earth is seen standing on a cube, through which tongues of fire run; he has a caduceus for a phallus, and the sun and the moon on his chest, to the right and to the left; he is bearded, he is crowned and he has a scepter in his hand. He is the azote of the wise on a pedestal of salt and sulphur. The symbolic head of the goat of Mendes is sometimes placed on this image; it is the Baphomet of the Templars, the goat of the Sabbath and the created word of the Gnostics; strange images that served as scarecrows for the common people, after having served as meditations for the wise; innocent hieroglyphics of thought and faith, which also served as a pretext for the fury of persecution. How unfortunate are men in their ignorance (...)>>

Levi unites not only the different philosophical and symbolic aspects, but also the ideas, causing the medieval idol to also be the devil of the witches and the Gnostic divinity. For all this the Baphomet figure will gain fame in all aspects of the occult, but a very bad reputation for monotheistic religions and specifically Christianity. And little by little, its uses will diversify among different sects and groups, each one reinterpreting it as they wish, under the cloak of medieval symbolism and knowledge.

Uses of the Templar Baphomet

The modern uses of Baphomet as an idol, figure, symbol, etc., have almost nothing to do with the one it had with the Templars.

This head was only seen in certain chapters of the Order. It must have had an initiatory value, but also linked to a religious and philosophical hierarchy. Although it is true that it was used as an oracle, we can understand its use in meetings of the high spheres of the Order, to make important decisions.

We also know that ropes with knots were hung over this head, which were given to new followers of the Order. These cords would be a kind of amulet or form of recognition. That this was its only use has not convinced many scholars, who think that perhaps it did have an initiatory character, but in any case, as we have said before, reserved, that only some Templars would really get to know the specific and complete rite, as well as participate in it. As part of a possible initiation in the dark, it is considered that its appearance had to be terrible and imposing, causing a "rebirth" in the initiate.

If it had or retained some fertility character of the pagan divinities, in any case they would have been associated with victory and abundance, riches and followers.

Some scholars of antiquity have tried to associate the idea of ​​the "head" with other heads of the ancient world that were used as talismans, for example, the head of Medusa, which the Greek goddess Athena wore on her cloak or shield, and which in houses was used as an apotropaic element in the entrances and rooms. There also existed in Sidon the legend of the head of a virgin whose corpse had been raped, and that when shown it ensured destruction of those who looked directly at it. As a final example is the Roman god Janus, with two faces, who symbolized peace and war, the beginning and the end.

However, its uses and functions were also impregnated by both the testimonies of others and the accusations instigated by the Church and especially by the intervention of King Philip IV, who for more than obvious reasons saw in the destruction of the Templar Order a way to keep its wealth and territories in France. Among these is its prophetic character, considered a silent figure who spoke at key moments, and as it could not be otherwise, its diabolical connotation.

Apart from this, of course the accusations included in its presence the heresies in fashion at the time: spitting and stepping on a crucifix, kissing the buttocks of a diabolical animal or a leader, idolatry and sodomy.

Today, Baphomet continues to cause curiosity and fear in equal parts. Associated with Masons and Satanists, both groups use it with different symbols and messages, theistic and non-theistic. In addition, many occultists and esotericists in general may have it as a symbol or as a representation of a unifying divinity. The controversy over the sculpture of the Church of Satan in Salem, or its use (with a lawsuit included) by television series, demonstrate that Baphomet continues to be used today, increasingly popularized, while we continue to be unaware of its true origins.

Pietro V. Carracedo Ahumada - pietrocarracedo@gmail.com

Bibliography:

- De Spartakus Freemann, D. S. Soror . Le Baphomet - Figure de l'ésotérisme templier & de la Franc-Maçonnerie. Editions Hermesia, 2023.

- Lamy, M. La otra historia de los templarios. Ed. Titivillus, 1999

- Levi. E. Dogma y ritual de Alta Magia. Ed. Humanitas, 2001

- Partridge, C Encyclopedia of New Religions: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities. Lion Hudson Plc.2004.

Related articles:

> Christian Demonology in Middle Ages.

> Demon Seals: Signatures, grimoires and Protections.