The Sigil of Baphomet as pictured above was adopted by Anton LaVey as the symbol of The Church of Satan. The symbol has evolved from its first appearance in a 1897 book entitled The Key of Black Magic, written by the French occultist Stanislas de Guaita. .The symbolic 'Goat of Mendes' traces its origins to the Egyptian god Neter Amon, "he who abides in all things, the soul of all phenomena." Depictions of goat or ram headed gods are found as far back as Babylonian times where they represented the givers of knowledge. Surrounding the pentagram which represents all 'satanic' qualities and manifestations are the Hebrew letters spelling the name Leviathan, the ancient, female, sea-dwelling Dragon of the Abyss from the Old Testament. Enclosing and completing the sigil (a seal, stamp or signet) is the snake swallowing its tail, the symbol of infinity.