10 Satanic Symbols and Their Hidden Meanings

Throughout history, symbols have played a powerful role in religious and occult practices, serving as visual representations of beliefs, ideologies, and secret knowledge. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten prominent satanic symbols, uncovering their origins, history, and the hidden meanings behind each.

1. The Inverted Pentagram

Perhaps the most recognizable satanic symbol, the inverted pentagram is a five-pointed star turned upside-down, with two points facing upward. It was not always linked to Satanism; originally, the pentagram denoted balance, harmony, and the human microcosm in ancient Pythagorean and early Christian traditions.

However, with the rise of modern Satanism, particularly through the Church of Satan founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, the inverted pentagram became a symbol of rebellion against conventional religious beliefs. In this context, it represents the material world triumphing over the spiritual, and the embrace of one’s carnal nature. The two upward points are sometimes interpreted as goat horns, reinforcing its association with Baphomet and the rejection of mainstream morality.

2. The Sigil of Baphomet

The Sigil of Baphomet, adopted as the official insignia of the Church of Satan, features an inverted pentagram with a goat’s head in the center, surrounded by five Hebrew letters spelling “Leviathan.” Baphomet itself is a composite deity, originally referenced by the Knights Templar and later reimagined by occultist Eliphas Lévi as a representation of the union of opposites (male and female, human and animal, good and evil). The symbol embodies the duality of existence and the pursuit of knowledge, while also serving as an emblem of nonconformity and anti-establishment sentiment.

3. The Leviathan Cross

Also known as the Satanic Cross, the Leviathan Cross consists of a double cross with an infinity loop at the bottom. Though sometimes mistakenly attributed to alchemy, it was popularized by Anton LaVey as a symbol of “infinity” and “protection.” The double cross signifies balance and protection, while the infinity loop represents the eternal universe and the endless possibilities of human potential. For Satanists, it often highlights autonomy, perpetual self-reinvention, and resistance to dogma.

4. The Goat’s Head (Goat of Mendes)

The goat’s head, or Goat of Mendes, is closely tied to the image of Baphomet and often depicted within an inverted pentagram. Its origins stem from the ancient Egyptian god Banebdjedet and the subsequent Christian demonization of pagan deities. The goat, seen as lascivious and wild, came to symbolize lust, fertility, and later, evil. In Satanic iconography, the goat’s head mocks the “Lamb of God” and celebrates animalistic instincts, earthly desires, and the rejection of asceticism.

5. The Black Sun

The Black Sun, or “Schwarze Sonne,” is a circular symbol comprised of twelve radial sig runes. While its origins are rooted in ancient Germanic and neo-pagan traditions, it has sometimes been appropriated by occult and Satanic groups. The Black Sun represents hidden or esoteric enlightenment, the cyclical nature of life and death, and the worship of the dark, unmanifested aspects of the universe. It is often associated with the search for forbidden knowledge and the embrace of shadow aspects within oneself.

6. The Inverted Cross

The inverted cross, historically known as the Cross of St. Peter, was originally a symbol of humility and martyrdom. St. Peter, according to tradition, requested crucifixion upside-down, believing himself unworthy to die as Jesus did. However, in modern times, especially within horror media and Satanic imagery, the inverted cross has come to represent blasphemy, anti-Christian sentiment, and the rejection of religious authority. For some, it embodies the idea of turning traditional beliefs “on their head.”

7. The Eye of Providence (All-Seeing Eye)

The Eye of Providence, depicted as an eye within a triangle and often surrounded by rays of light, is commonly associated with Freemasonry and Christianity. Yet, in some occult and Satanic interpretations, the all-seeing eye signifies inner vision, enlightenment, and the acquisition of forbidden knowledge. It can also represent surveillance, control, or the illusion of divine omniscience. Within Satanic symbolism, it is sometimes used ironically or as a statement of individual sovereignty against external judgment.

8. The Ouroboros

The Ouroboros, an ancient symbol of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, predates Satanism by millennia and appears in many cultures as a metaphor for eternity, renewal, and the cyclical nature of existence. In Satanic and left-hand path traditions, the Ouroboros can symbolize self-sufficiency, the eternal cycle of destruction and creation, and the embrace of both light and dark. It is a reminder that endings and beginnings are intertwined, and that transformation arises from the acceptance of one’s shadow self.

9. The Hexagram (Seal of Solomon)

The hexagram, or six-pointed star, is best known as a symbol of Judaism but has a complex history in Western occultism. In some esoteric and Satanic contexts, it represents the union of opposites (as above, so below), the fusion of spirit and matter, and the integration of masculine and feminine energies. For some Satanic groups, the hexagram is used to invoke balance, power, and the mastery of opposing forces within the self.

10. The Trident

The trident, a three-pronged spear, is traditionally linked to sea gods such as Poseidon and Shiva. In demonology, it is also associated with the devil or demonic entities wielding it as a weapon of dominion. In Satanic symbolism, the trident can stand for rebellion, assertion of will, and the power to both create and destroy. The three prongs have been interpreted as representing the trinity of birth, life, and death, or alternatively, mind, body, and soul.

FAQ: Satanic Symbols – Origins and Meanings

1. What is the inverted pentagram and what does it symbolize?
The inverted pentagram is a five-pointed star with two points facing upward. Though it originally represented balance and harmony, it is now associated with modern Satanism as a symbol of rebellion, materialism, and the embrace of carnal nature. The two upward points are often seen as goat horns, linking it to Baphomet.

2. What is the Sigil of Baphomet?
The Sigil of Baphomet features an inverted pentagram with a goat’s head at its center, surrounded by Hebrew letters spelling “Leviathan.” Used by the Church of Satan, it represents duality, nonconformity, and the pursuit of hidden knowledge.

3. What does the Leviathan Cross represent?
Also called the Satanic Cross, the Leviathan Cross is a double cross with an infinity loop at the bottom. It stands for infinity, balance, protection, and the endless possibilities of human potential. It often symbolizes autonomy and resistance to dogma.

4. Why is the goat’s head a Satanic symbol?
The goat’s head, or Goat of Mendes, comes from ancient pagan and Egyptian imagery. In Satanism, it mocks the “Lamb of God,” celebrates earthly desires, and stands for the rejection of religious asceticism.

5. What is the Black Sun and how is it used?
The Black Sun is a circular symbol with twelve radial runes, originating in Germanic and neo-pagan traditions. In occult and Satanic contexts, it represents hidden enlightenment, life’s cycles, and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

6. Why is the inverted cross associated with Satanism?
Originally a Christian symbol of humility (the Cross of St. Peter), the inverted cross now often symbolizes blasphemy, anti-Christian sentiment, and the rejection of religious authority in Satanic imagery.

7. What does the Eye of Providence mean in Satanic symbolism?
While commonly linked to Christianity and Freemasonry, in Satanic contexts the all-seeing eye can represent inner vision, enlightenment, and the quest for forbidden knowledge. It may also serve as an ironic statement against external judgment.

8. What is the significance of the Ouroboros?
The Ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. In Satanism, it stands for eternity, cyclical existence, self-sufficiency, and the acceptance of both light and dark within oneself.

9. How is the hexagram (Seal of Solomon) used in Satanism?
Traditionally a symbol of Judaism, the hexagram in occult and Satanic contexts signifies the union of opposites, balance of energies, and mastery over conflicting forces.

10. What does the trident symbolize in Satanic tradition?
The trident, a three-pronged spear, is linked to dominion and power. In Satanic symbolism, it represents rebellion, assertion of will, the creative and destructive powers, and the integration of birth, life, and death or mind, body, and soul.