The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World - Judika Illes 2005

Boch de Biterna/Boch de Biterne
The Horned One and The Devil

Boch translates as “he goat.” This term first emerged on the French side of the Pyrenees in reference to Basque witches. It is possible that the term makes reference to Akerbeltz or to Mari. The Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica) is a unique type of ibex or steinbock (wild mountain goat) indigenous only to the Pyrenees. Goats make frequent appearances in Basque magical and spiritual traditions.

In 1458, Inquisitor Alfonso de Spina deplored ’perverse women…who come together by night in some deserted plain to adore a goat commonly called the boch de Biterne.” He claimed to have seen paintings in the chambers of the Toulouse Inquisition that depicted these women adoring their boch.

See also Akerbeltz; DICTIONARY: Akelarre; DIVINE WITCH: Mari; WITCHCRAZE!: Basque.