Gothic fashion is more than just skin deep; it incorporates arcane symbolism that goes back hundreds and even thousands of years. The goth subculture reaches back into history for inspiration, from the Victorian era to medieval times, breathing new life into the symbolism of the distant past.
Here are some of the symbols most commonly worn by goths and what they mean:
Ankh
Perhaps the most famous gothic symbol, the ankh is an ancient Egyptian sign for eternal life. It is notably simple, made up of two crossed bars topped with a single loop. It was traditionally drawn in gold, the color of the sun, and it has been theorized that the loop at the top represents the rising sun.
Wearing ankh pendants became popular among goths in the 1980s, when there was a huge vogue for all things Egyptian within the goth subculture. You’ll also see a lot of heavy, stylized Egyptian eye makeup, snake jewelry, upper arm bracelets, layered necklaces, and severe black haircuts reminiscent of tomb paintings in goth fashion of this era.
The ankh necklace was further popularized by the character Death in the Sandman comics, who appears as a goth woman wearing an ankh around her neck and black eyeliner with curlicues.
Pentacle
This five-pointed star, or pentagram, inscribed in a circle is an ancient pagan symbol. (The circle is what makes it a pentacle, by the way.) The five points of the star represent the four elements (earth, air, water, and fire) combined with the fifth, the spirit or self.
It is a symbol of protection often used in warding in magical traditions, hung around the home, and worn as jewelry. Neopagan religions make heavy use of pentacles.
The reversed pentagram or pentacle is a symbol associated with satanism. It represents a subversion of the traditional pentacle in which the fifth point representing the spirit is placed above the four earthly elements. The inverted five-pointed star also resembles a horned goat head.
Skulls
“That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once,” Hamlet remarks to Horatio when they come upon one in a graveyard, just before he launches into his famous “Alas, Poor Yorick” speech. (Clad in black, obsessed with death, and won’t shut up about his favorite underground performers? Oh, yeah, Hamlet was goth.)
Shakespeare used the skull as a potent reminder of mortality in his greatest play, and it was a common motif in medieval and Renaissance art called the memento mori (from Latin for “Remember you must die”).
At once macabre and starkly beautiful, skulls feature prominently in gothic style, often appearing on shirt designs or jewelry. Animal skulls are also a common motif, especially those of deer, wolves, and other wild animals associated with dark forest imagery.
Eye of Horus & Eye of Ra
Goth fashion icon Siouxsie Sioux has been endlessly photographed wearing Eye of Horus-inspired makeup–not surprising, given her fascination with ancient Egyptian art and symbols. (She even posed as the goddess Bastet for a photo shoot.) The Eye of Horus also appears on the cover of the Sisters of Mercy album Vision Thing. So what does it mean?
The Eye of Horus, also called the wedjat, is a symbol of healing and protection, possibly an antecedent of the Evil Eye symbol as we know it today. It represents the Falcon-headed god Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis, as a stylized drawing of a left eye with intricate eyeliner. When the right wedjat eye is depicted, this is the Eye of Ra. The Eye of Ra represents the sun, but is also a feminine deity and extension of the sun god’s power, often a violent and wrathful force.
These symbols also have occult connotations because of the interest in Egyptian symbolism expressed by late 19th and early 20th century occultists like Aleister Crowley and Madame Blavatsky. Whatever meaning you attach to it, the Eye of Horus always looks undeniably mysterious.
Inverted Cross
Though it is used in modern times as a satanic or anti-Christian symbol, the upside-down cross actually has deep roots in Christian symbolism and tradition. Also known as the Cross of St. Peter or Petrine Cross, it references the story of the martyrdom of Saint Peter, who is said to have been crucified upside-down. His martyrdom was depicted by Caravaggio in 1601 with the artist’s characteristic depth of shadows and sense of dark drama. The symbol appears on many European churches in this context.
Its use in gothic fashion is usually a rejection of Christian doctrine, first corresponding in the U.S. to the era of Reagan’s so-called “moral majority” and continuing to this day. Often more of a political statement than a purely religious one, this symbol is a signal that the wearer disagrees with imposing Christian values on secular life.
Inverted crosses are especially associated with demonic imagery, appearing often in horror films about the devil and demonic possession. Movies like The Amityville Horror and The Conjuring feature upside-down crosses, and one is famously shown hanging over the bassinet at the end of Rosemary’s Baby (which is kind of adorable, if you ask me). Metal bands such as Ghost also often use inverted crosses in their iconography as well.
Rosaries & Crucifixes
Oftentimes, goths will appropriate Christian symbols, putting a dark spin on them. Catholic religious symbols such as the crucifix, rosary, saints’ medals, Sacred Hearts, etc. are especially popular for their opulent, often gruesome aesthetics. Much of the time this is a purely aesthetic choice, but there’s also a sense of playfulness, shock value, and camp involved that harkens back to the goth scene’s punk roots.
Triple Goddess Symbol
The triple goddess symbol appears frequently in neopagan traditions such as Wicca. It is a circle flanked by two crescent moons, representing the phases of the moon and the unity of the figures of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone in the Moon Goddess. It is also a symbol for Hecate, a triple goddess of magic, spells, night, crossroads, and the moon in ancient Greek religion.
This symbol is worn often in jewelry such as rings and necklaces, or on headbands. It’s frequently tattooed as well. Even people who don’t practice pagan religions find beauty in this simple representation of the divine feminine.
Leviathan Cross
Image via Wikimedia Commons user Kwamikagami. CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Leviathan Cross is made up of a double cross on top of an infinity symbol, with the upper bar of the cross usually being shorter. The bars of the cross are sometimes tipped with arrows.
In alchemy, it represents sulfur, and is sometimes known as Brimstone. It represents the masculine, active principle, the sun, and fire.
In the biblical tradition, Leviathan is a huge sea serpent associated with the devil and with chaos. In the 1960s, Anton LaVey included the Leviathan Cross symbol in his Satanic Bible, where Leviathan represents the element of water and the West. In this context, it represents knowledge surfacing from the depths. The symbol has no satanic associations outside the LaVeyan tradition, apart from the hellish connotation of brimstone.
Sigil of Lilith
Lilith is a figure from Jewish and Babylonian folklore, who legend says was the first wife of Adam and was created from clay like him rather than being subordinate like Eve. She proved to be too headstrong and independent and chose exile from the Garden of Eden, eventually becoming a grotesque, demonic mythological figure associated with witchcraft.
Today, Lilith is revered by modern practitioners of various witchcraft traditions as a deity representing women’s empowerment.
The Sigil of Lilith is a recent invention, and it involves three crosses branching out from the center of a circle, which is inscribed with the letters LILITH. It resembles a modified astrological Saturn symbol.
Ouroboros
The circular symbol of a snake or dragon eating its own tail is an elegant, ancient representation of infinity. It symbolizes the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. The name means “tail-devourer” in Greek, but the earliest known representation actually comes from King Tut’s tomb and dates to the 13th century BCE. In Norse mythology, the serpent Jörmungandr encloses the world in a circle with its tail in its mouth, while in Hindu iconography, the ouroboros is part of the foundation of the world.
Cultures across the globe have used this evocative sign to represent the eternal. From Renaissance alchemists to present-day esotericists, everyone can discover their own shades of meaning in this ancient symbol.
Sigil of Lucifer
Image via Wikimedia Commons user Ssolbergj. CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Sigil of Lucifer is an inverted triangle with the sides extending to form an X with rounded ends, with an additional X inside the triangle and the letter “v” inscribed below it.
It represents Lucifer in his aspect of “light-bearer” or morningstar, as a bringer of knowledge, in various satanic traditions. The term morningstar is also associated with the planet Venus. In Anton LaVey’s Satanic Bible, Lucifer is associated with the East and is a “lord of the air” who brings enlightenment.
Luciferianism reveres Lucifer not as Satan but as a figure associated with liberation, the intellect, and freedom of mind. The Sigil of Lucifer is used in magical traditions such as Luciferian Wicca, and by those who value intellectual freedom more broadly.
Baphomet
Baphomet is a goat-headed, winged human figure associated with satanic religion, often depicted as androgynous. The Satanic Temple famously commissioned a Baphomet statue in 2014 to challenge a proposed plan to place a Ten Commandments monument at the Oklahoma state capitol on the grounds of religious equality, demanding that the state must also erect their Baphomet alongside any Christian monument.
Baphomet represents balance between elements in various occult traditions, symbolized by the inclusion of male and female attributes. The hands are depicted with one pointing up and the other pointing down, another symbol of cosmic unity. 19th century occultist Éliphas Lévi wrote that his famous drawing of Baphomet was “a depiction of the absolute in symbolic form.”
Historically, the Baphomet image dates back to the trials of the Knights Templar, who were charged by the Church with idolatry and other crimes in the fourteenth century in what was likely a politically motivated effort to purge the organization. In fact, the date of their mass arrest has gone down in history as a day of bad luck: Friday the 13th of October, 1307.
High-ranking Templars confessed under torture to worshipping an idol known as Baphomet (probably a corruption of the Old French word for Muhammed, Mahomet). In the 18th and 19th centuries, scholars became interested in the possible occult meanings of the symbol and invented various lore about it.
The Sigil of Baphomet places the figure’s head inside an inverted pentagram with Hebrew letters spelling out the word “Leviathan.” It is the official symbol of the Church of Satan.
Tarot Symbolism
Tarot is a complex and multifaceted set of symbols dating back to the 1400s, when the tarot deck was used in northern Italy for card games. The word tarot derives from tarocchi, the Italian word for the suit of trump cards included in the deck. It wasn’t until the 19th century that tarot cards became widely used for divination.
Each deck is divided into four suits of Minor Arcana corresponding to the four elements: Wands (Fire), Cups (Water), Swords (Air), and Pentacles (Earth). Beyond these are the cards of the Major Arcana, which hold deep symbolic significance. Here are a few of the most commonly depicted Major Arcana cards:
The High Priestess
The High Priestess signifies spirituality and intuition, the need to look within for answers. She is typically depicted between two pillars, representing a middle way between them, a spiritual journey. The nighttime scene she reigns over represents the realm of the spirit rather than earthly matters.
Drawing this card indicates mystery and the unknown, and shows that you should trust your instincts and intuition. In the reversed position, it indicates confusion about the way forward and a refusal to listen to one’s inner voice.
The High Priestess often appears on goth t-shirts and other clothing because of its association with mystery, night, goddess spirituality, and finding your own path.
The Devil
This card represents bondage, being trapped by one’s compulsions, addictions, or ideas, and the snares of the material world. It typically shows two demonic male and female figures chained to the Devil’s pedestal. The Devil is usually depicted as a goat-like creature with horns and human attributes.
In a reversed position, the Devil signifies regaining control, or a moment of realization and clarity about one’s situation.
The Devil card is another popular choice for things like shirt designs because of its satanic associations, even though it doesn’t actually have much to do with the literal Christian devil.
The Hermit
The Hermit is most often depicted as an old man in a cloak holding a lantern. It represents an inner journey toward knowledge that requires a period of solitude and reflection. This card indicates a time of soul-searching and can represent a mentor figure.
In the reversed position, it evokes unhealthy isolation and a tendency to get lost in metaphysical speculation and lose sight of reality.
The Hermit image appears on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s fourth album. It is associated with mysticism and knowledge-seeking in the Christian tradition, with John the Baptist being the most significant hermit figure in the New Testament.
The Lovers
On this card, a nude man and a woman are shown together, sometimes embracing, sometimes surrounded by Garden of Eden imagery and watched over by an angel.
The Lovers card represents unity and wholeness, the coming together of elements. It is an auspicious card to draw when dealing to relationships, partnerships, and new ventures, especially relating to communication. The upside-down Lovers card indicates disharmony and a lack of communication.
The Fool
In the well-known Rider-Waite deck, the Fool is depicted wearing a jester’s costume, setting off on a journey with his bindle over his shoulder and a small dog barking in warning as he approaches a cliff.
The Major Arcana represent the Fool’s journey, and he faces the world with a sense of naive optimism. This card represents innocence, a spirit of adventure, and new beginnings. It is a call to embark on new journeys and take risks.
When the Fool is reversed, it means recklessness and a lack of foresight–the Fool’s negative qualities–are being emphasized. It is a warning to exercise caution.
Death
A skeleton, skull, or Grim Reaper figure is the most common representation of Death in tarot symbolism. It is one of the most famous tarot cards, frequently appearing in movies and pop culture, where it is used for scares and to create a sense of foreboding.
Although its appearance can inspire dread, the Death card is often a positive omen. It signifies a letting go of old ways of life, change, and endings. It’s about making way for the new. When reversed, Death can indicate stagnation and decay or clinging to the past.
These are just a few of the many symbols associated with gothic fashion and lifestyle. Goths have a variety of interests, from ancient Egypt to magical traditions, and the symbols we use for self-expression reflect that. (And that’s without even scratching the surface of gothic symbols and imagery from horror movies and other pop culture.)
If you’re interested in dark fashion, mysticism, and the arcane, consider incorporating some of these goth symbols into your personal style, and show the world your inner bat-itude.