Baphomet
/ˈbæf.ə.mɛt/noun
A name associated with a mysterious idol or occult symbol, especially in later esoteric and popular traditions.
Did you know?The name first appears in medieval trial records tied to the Knights Templar, but scholars still debate whether it was a corruption, a misunderstanding, or a deliberately distorted label.
Etymological Timeline
12th–14th Century
Old French/Latin
Baphomet
“A mysterious name appearing in medieval sources, especially in accusations against the Templars”
14th Century
Latin
Bafometus
“Latinized form used in inquisitorial and chronicle traditions”
14th–15th Century
French
Baphomet
“A contested term linked to accusations of heresy, idolatry, or corrupted religious reference”
19th Century
French
Baphomet
“Reimagined in occult and esoteric writing as a symbolic figure of occult balance and hidden wisdom”
Modern English
English
Baphomet
“A symbolic occult figure often depicted with a goat-headed humanoid form”