Baphomet Postcard

Vintage 1970s Baphomet Postcard

Baphomet has been referenced since at least the 1090s, possibly linked to Islam, as chroniclers referred to mosques as “Bafumarias.” Some suggest it may derive from “Mahomet,” an alternate spelling of Muhammad, although many theories exist.

The figure gained notoriety during the Inquisition with the Knights Templar, who, under torture, sometimes confessed to worshipping a pagan idol named Baphomet, though not consistently across the order. Its true connection to the Templars remains uncertain, possibly stemming from fabricated accusations by the Church.

After a period of relative obscurity, Baphomet reemerged in 19th-century occult writings, particularly through Eliphas Lévi, who illustrated a human-goat figure known as the “Sabbatic Goat.” This depiction influenced the Rider-Waite tarot’s Devil image, and Baphomet is viewed in some mystical traditions as a deity embodying the universe and its opposing forces.

This 1970s oversized postcard features a photograph of a statue of Baphomet, based on an illustration by Eliphas Lévi, with the title at the bottom reading, ‘Baphomet, The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.’  The text on the back of the postcard reads, BAPHOMET – The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, 235 Jefferson (Fisherman’s Wharf), San Francisco, California, and the caption, ‘The Horned God of the Witches or the Goat-Headed Devil was the traditional figure of evil during the 1600s.’ Each postcard is in good condition for its age and measures 21cm x 15cm.

Specifications
Format: Paper, large postcard
Publication date: 1970s
Condition: Vintage, unsold stock
Copyright: The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, San Fransico
Dimensions: H21cm x W15cm, approximately