While the mayor and others have criticized the display as intentionally provocative, proponents contend they aim to promote rational thought, not denigrate Christianity.

On Tuesday morning, Rep. Ellen Read, a Newmarket Democrat, was picking up the pieces of the vandalized goat-headed figure, three days after it was first unveiled on Main Street in Concord.

A dark, horned figure with a goat’s head stands in front of the New Hampshire State House. It’s a holiday display installed by The Satanic Temple — near the city of Concord’s Nativity scene, according to the city’s Dec. 7 Facebook post.

City officials said they had to decide “whether to ban all holiday displays” and opted instead to grant a permit for the Satanic display “to avoid litigation.”