The goat, specifically when represented as the Baphomet, is associated with Satanism, particularly as the official symbol of the Church of Satan.
While goats appear in various mythologies and religions, often as sacrificial animals or symbols of fertility, the specific goat imagery used in Satanism (most notably the Sigil of Baphomet) has a strong connection to that particular belief system. The Sigil of Baphomet, featuring a goat's head inside an inverted pentagram, became the official symbol of the Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey in 1966. This symbol represents the carnal and earthly nature of humanity, in contrast to spiritual aspirations, a central tenet of LaVeyan Satanism.
It is crucial to note that the association of the goat with "evil" predates LaVeyan Satanism. Christian imagery has sometimes associated the goat with the Devil, stemming from interpretations of biblical passages that separate sheep (representing the righteous) from goats (representing the damned). However, it was LaVey who codified the goat image within the specific context of modern Satanism.
Therefore, while goats have different symbolic meanings across various religions and cultures, the specific depiction of the goat as Baphomet is primarily associated with Satanism.
