The Leviathan Cross Explained: Is It Really Satanic?

The mysterious Leviathan Cross has meant many different things over the centuries, and it remains a controversial symbol today. It resembles a two-beamed cross atop an infinity sign and was chosen as a symbol of the Church of Satan in the 60s, but its occult history goes back much farther. We partnered with a symbologist to help us explain what the Leviathan Cross means and its origins in alchemy, plus how it came to be associated with Satan and whether it really is as satanic and evil as people think it is.

What is the Leviathan Cross?

Symbologist David Christiansen says that the Leviathan Cross is a symbol of fire, alchemy, and transformation. In the Church of Satan, it represents human self-determination and rebellion. Originally, it was the alchemical symbol for sulfur, the element of the human spirit and one of the fundamental components of matter.

Section 1 of 7:

Leviathan Cross Description & Meaning

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The Leviathan Cross symbolizes human autonomy and self-determination. It resembles a Cross of Lorraine (a two-barred cross), with an additional, smaller beam above the standard horizontal beam seen on the Latin Cross.^{[1]
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Research source} At the base of the cross is an infinity symbol, said to represent the infinite nature of the universe or of the human experience, as well as the concept of “no beginning, no end.”^{[2]
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- Christiansen says that today, the Leviathan Cross is often associated with spirit (the cross) meeting matter (the infinity sign). It can also represent the eternal nature of “being” and existence, or even the balance between two opposing forces (like spirit and matter).^{[3]
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- The double cross has several interpretations. Some say the two beams symbolize protection and balance between people, while others believe the resemblance to an equals sign (=) means that every person has their own life and path to navigate.
- Others believe the double beam represents a series of crossroads, showing that human beings have free choice.
- The Leviathan Cross is also used as a symbol for the Church of Satan because of its symbolic links to humanism and self-determination.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

David Christiansen is a symbologist and full-time nomadic traveler who educates others about different perspectives, symbols, spiritualities, pagan paths, and more.

Section 2 of 7:

Leviathan Cross Origins

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The Leviathan Cross was originally an alchemical symbol for black sulfur. Christiansen says that the Leviathan Cross originated from ancient alchemy practices, where it represented fire (or sulfer) and brimstone.^{[4]
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David Christiansen
Symbologist

Expert Interview} Sulfur was believed to be the element of the human soul, and was one of the Tria Prima (Three Primes), or fundamental components of all matter (the others were Mercury, or spirit, and salt, or body).^{[5]
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- Alchemy was the part-scientific, part-philosophical study of transmuting substances (like turning lead into gold) and finding the “elixir of life” (the key to immortality and healing).
- The symbol’s link to the “soul” element may be why it became associated with humanism and self-determination, and later, the Church of Satan.^{[6]
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Leviathan Cross & the Church of Satan

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The Leviathan Cross became a symbol of the Church of Satan in the 1960s. The founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey, may have chosen the symbol as a representation of human autonomy and self-determination (one of the core principles of Satanism). The infinity sign may symbolize the infinite possibilities of the human experience, and its position at the bottom of the cross may mean human balance and truth comes from a source other than a divine god.^{[7]
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- The symbol’s medieval association with sulfur, the element of the human soul in alchemy, may have also been a reason to choose the Leviathan Cross for a humanist religion like Satanism.
- In LaVey’s The Satanic Bible, the Leviathan represents the element of water and the concepts of depth and the deep emotions of the human subconscious (hence the name, Leviathan Cross).
- Christiansen adds that in Satanic and occult practices, the Leviathan Cross is often a symbol of rebellion and embracing the material world.^{[8]
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Section 4 of 7:

Is the Leviathan Cross really satanic?

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Before Anton LaVey chose the Leviathan Cross as a symbol of his Church of Satan, it had no association with Satan, Satanism, or anti-Christian ideas. However, as the alchemical symbol for sulfur (brimstone), some suggest that it became associated with hell and Satan because of the element’s highly combustible nature, foul smell, and otherworldly pale blue flame when burned.^{[9]
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Is the Leviathan Cross good or bad?

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The Leviathan Cross can be good or bad, depending on your personal beliefs. Many Christians believe the symbol is evil since it’s associated with the Church of Satan, and Satan is the chief adversary of God. However, satanists view the Leviathan Cross as a representation of humankind’s ability to choose their own destiny without worshipping a higher deity—to them, it’s a good symbol.
- Outside of religion, the Leviathan Cross is seen as an edgy, goth symbol or counter-culture symbol that some people wear to make a religious or political statement.

Section 6 of 7:

What is a Leviathan?

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In the Bible, the Leviathan is a large, fearsome sea monster. In Hebrew, the word for Leviathan means “twisted” or “coiled,” and Isaiah 27:1 describes the Leviathan as “the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent…the sea monster.” The Old Testament describes it as a real monster that was known by the people of the time. It was said to be frightening to look at and unable to be tamed, with impenetrable scales and fearsome teeth.^{[10]
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- In some cases, the Leviathan is used as a symbol or metaphor for prideful kings who believed they could withstand God’s power.
- Contrary to some beliefs, the Leviathan is not a spirit or fallen angel in service to Satan or Lucifer. The Bible only describes it as a real creature, with no spiritual or metaphysical powers.^{[11]
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- This is a different view of the Leviathan than in Satanism, where the Leviathan is a symbolic metaphor for deeper human consciousness.

Section 7 of 7:

Difference from Other Crosses

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Orthodox Cross The Leviathan Cross sometimes gets confused with other crosses, including the Orthodox Cross. The Orthodox Cross (or Eastern Cross) also had extra beams. There’s an additional, shorter beam above the typical beam seen on the Latin Cross, as well as a slanted third beam near the bottom of the cross. The top beam represents Pontius Pilate’s inscription, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews,” while the slanted beam symbolizes the footrest where Christ’s feet were nailed.^{[12]
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- Some confuse the two crosses because of the double beam at the top. However, the Orthodox Cross has no infinity symbol at the bottom, and there is no association of the Leviathan Cross with Orthodox Christianity.
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Cross of Lorraine The Cross of Lorraine is a double cross that originated in Hungary in the 12th century and later came to France via the House of Anjou. It became associated with the Duchy of Lorraine in France and has remained a symbol of the region since the 15th century. The origins of the double-beamed design are unclear, but it may have ancient Byzantine roots.^{[13]
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- While the Leviathan Cross and the Cross of Lorraine both have two beams, there’s no evidence that they’re symbolically linked. Some myths say the Knights Templar hd a hand in both of their development, though.
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St. Peter’s Cross St. Peter’s Cross looks like an upside-down or inverted Latin Cross because Peter requested to be crucified upside-down (he did not believe he was worthy to be martyred in the same manner as Jesus).^{[14]
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Research source} While the Leviathan Cross and St. Peter’s Cross don’t look very similar, they are sometimes confused because they both get associated with Satanism, anti-Christian beliefs, or evil in pop culture.
- As horror expert Sydney Bermudez explains, “The inverted cross historically had a very different meaning, but it’s often used in horror stories and movies as a symbol of evil.”^{[15]
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