Satanic Temple display placed at Illinois state house alongside Christmas and Hanukkah displays

A monument from by The Satanic Temple of Chicago has been added to the Illinois Statehouse rotunda as part of its holiday display.

The monument consists of a 3-foot base with an extended arm holding an apple on top, with the words “Knowledge is the greatest gift” written on a plaque on the front of the base, according to the State Journal-Register.

The sculpture joins a nativity scene to commemorate Christmas and a menorah to celebrate Hanukkah in the statehouse rotunda.

The group applied to the secretary of state’s office to show the display and was approved.

{mosads}The spokesman for the Illinois secretary of state told the news outlet that the Satanic group had the right just like any other group to put up its display since the rotunda is a public place.

“Under the Constitution, the First Amendment, people have a right to express their feelings, their thoughts,” said spokesman Dave Druker. “This recognizes that.”

The State Journal-Register reports that a large sign near the holiday displays explains the Supreme Court ruling regarding displays in public places.

In August, another Satanic Temple brought a statue of Baphomet, a goat-like figure associated with Satanism, to a First Amendment rally at the Arkansas state Capitol.