The infamous image of Baphomet (shown above) was created by Eliphas Levi, a French occult scholar and ceremonial magician, in the mid 19th century. The name Baphomet has been linked with the Templars since the early 14th century, when the name came up in their inquisitional trials. At their trials, some of the Templars admitted that it was part of the Templar tradition to worship, or in some way venerate the idea of Baphomet. Since these confessions were obtained via severe torture, the question remains as to whether or not the information was accurate, or if they were merely forced to say what their tormentors wanted them to say. However, further elaborations on the the idea that the name Baphomet has a direct connection to Solomon’s Temple appear to have first come into public awareness via Levi's writings, also of the mid 19th century period. Levi asserts that the name was qabalisticly formed by writing backward tem. o. h. p. ab which is an abbreviation of temple omnium hominum pacis abbas, ‘abbot’ or ‘father of the temple of all men.’ We can only speculate as to whether or not this indicated a connection to Solomon's Temple, or if occult scholars during Levi’s time may have had other undisclosed information which led them to the conclusion that a connection exists. According to an article posted on Wikipedia, “The name Baphomet first appears around 1195 in the Occitan poem "Senhors, per los nostres peccatz" by the troubadour Gavaudan.” This is more than seven hundred years after the temple is said to have been destroyed. Given the disparate time frame, it seems more likely that the name was not associated with the temple during the period that the temple is said to have existed, but instead it may have been attributed some meaning in connection with the temple in the middle ages by an unknown individual or group pre-dating Eliphas Levi's lifetime.
