Artistic images of Satan with horns, cloven hooves, and a tail are a blend of traits borrowed from various pagan deities.

The popular image of Satan with goat-like features and a pitchfork combines elements from pagan gods such as Pan and Bes. These features were incorporated during the Middle Ages to symbolize the devil and distinguish him visually from other figures. This iconography helped shape Western cultural perceptions of evil and the devil, influencing literature, art, and folklore.