Many symbols that people call "satanic" are much older than modern Satanism. Some began as Christian, alchemical or esoteric signs; a few were adopted by Satanic organisations in the twentieth century; and at least one popular "satanic" symbol is actually a neo-Nazi emblem. This guide explains where each symbol comes from, what it means today and the most common misconceptions.
A quick note on modern Satanism
Modern organised Satanism is recent. The Church of Satan was founded in San Francisco in 1966 by Anton LaVey, who published The Satanic Bible in 1969. LaVeyan Satanism is atheistic: it uses Satan as a symbol of individualism and rebellion rather than as a being to worship. The Satanic Temple, founded in 2013, is also non-theistic and is best known for campaigns about religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Most of the symbols below were chosen by these groups because of their long history in art, religion and occultism.
1. The Sigil of Baphomet
The Sigil of Baphomet shows a goat's head inside an inverted pentagram, surrounded by two circles containing five Hebrew letters that spell Leviathan. It is the official insignia of the Church of Satan and appears on the cover of The Satanic Bible.
The design did not start with LaVey. A very similar goat-in-pentagram image appeared in the French occultist Stanislas de Guaita's 1897 book La Clef de la Magie Noire. The Church of Satan adapted the image and made it the most recognisable emblem of modern Satanism.
2. Baphomet, the Sabbatic Goat
The winged, goat-headed figure seated with one arm pointing up and the other down comes from Éliphas Lévi's Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie, published in the 1850s. Lévi called it the Sabbatic Goat and presented it as a symbol of balance between opposites: light and dark, male and female, above and below. The Latin words solve and coagula on its arms refer to an alchemical idea of dissolving and joining.
The name Baphomet is older still. It appears in the records of the trials of the Knights Templar in the early fourteenth century, when the order was accused of worshipping an idol with that name. Historians generally treat those accusations as politically motivated. Today The Satanic Temple uses a large bronze Baphomet statue, unveiled in Detroit in 2015, as a centrepiece of its religious freedom campaigns.
3. The inverted pentagram
The five-pointed star has been used for thousands of years, including by early Christians, who sometimes linked its points to the five wounds of Christ. The idea that a pentagram with one point facing down stands for evil was popularised by Éliphas Lévi, who wrote that the point-down star represented the goat of the Sabbath.
An inverted star is not automatically satanic. The Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal organisation connected with Freemasonry, uses a point-down star as its emblem, and the star appears in many flags and heraldic designs without any occult meaning.
4. The Leviathan Cross
The Leviathan Cross is a double cross standing on an infinity sign. Its origin is alchemy, where the same shape was the symbol for sulphur, known in older English as brimstone. Because "fire and brimstone" is associated with hell, the symbol was later adopted in Satanic imagery and appears in The Satanic Bible.
5. The inverted cross
An upside-down Latin cross is widely seen as an anti-Christian sign, especially in horror films and heavy metal. Its original meaning is the opposite. Christian tradition holds that the apostle Peter asked to be crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to die in the same way as Jesus, so the inverted cross is known as the Cross of Saint Peter and has long been used in Catholic art as a sign of humility.
6. 666, the Number of the Beast
The number 666 comes from the Book of Revelation (13:18), which says the number of the beast is "six hundred threescore and six" in the King James Version. Many scholars read it as a coded reference to the Roman emperor Nero: when "Nero Caesar" is written in Hebrew letters and each letter is given its numerical value, the total is 666. Interestingly, some early manuscripts give the number as 616, which matches a different spelling of the same name.
7. The Black Sun: not a satanic symbol
The Black Sun, a wheel of twelve jagged rays, is often shared online as a satanic or occult symbol. Its real history is darker in a different way. The design is based on a floor mosaic in Wewelsburg Castle in Germany, which was renovated by the SS during the Nazi era. After the war it was adopted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, and anti-hate organisations list it as a hate symbol. If you see it on clothing, jewellery or tattoos, it is usually worth knowing that association.
Quick reference
| Symbol | Original source | Modern use |
|---|---|---|
| Sigil of Baphomet | Late 19th-century French occultism | Official emblem of the Church of Satan |
| Baphomet | Templar trials; Éliphas Lévi's 1850s illustration | The Satanic Temple, occult art, popular culture |
| Inverted pentagram | Ancient star symbol; "evil" reading from Lévi | Satanism, metal music; also the Order of the Eastern Star |
| Leviathan Cross | Alchemical symbol for sulphur | Satanic imagery |
| Inverted cross | Christian Cross of Saint Peter | Catholic symbol of humility; anti-Christian sign in pop culture |
| 666 | Book of Revelation | Popular shorthand for evil or the devil |
| Black Sun | Nazi-era mosaic at Wewelsburg | Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups |
Looking for symbols of protection instead?
If you came here because you are worried about a symbol you found, remember that most of these signs have harmless or historical explanations. For symbols that cultures around the world have used to feel safe and protected, see our guide to protection symbols and our practical guide to psychic protection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common satanic symbol?
The Sigil of Baphomet, a goat's head inside an inverted pentagram with the Hebrew letters for Leviathan, is the best-known symbol of modern Satanism. It is the official insignia of the Church of Satan.
Is an upside-down cross satanic?
Not originally. The inverted cross is the Cross of Saint Peter, a Christian symbol of humility based on the tradition that Peter was crucified upside down. It became an anti-Christian sign mainly through horror films and heavy metal.
Is the pentagram a satanic symbol?
The pentagram is an ancient symbol used by many cultures and religions. A point-up pentagram is common in Wicca and other traditions. The idea that a point-down pentagram represents evil was popularised in the 19th century by Éliphas Lévi.
What does 666 mean?
666 is the number of the beast in the Book of Revelation 13:18. Many scholars think it is a coded reference to the Roman emperor Nero, calculated by adding the numerical values of the letters of his name in Hebrew.
Is the Black Sun a satanic symbol?
No. The Black Sun is based on a mosaic in Wewelsburg Castle, renovated by the SS during the Nazi era, and is used today by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups. It is considered a hate symbol rather than a satanic one.
Do Satanists worship the devil?
The largest organised groups do not. The Church of Satan is atheistic and uses Satan as a symbol of individualism, and The Satanic Temple is non-theistic and focuses on activism and religious freedom.