An unfinished pyramid appears on the reverse of the seal, inscribed on its base with the date 1776 in Roman numerals. Where the top of the pyramid should be, the so-called eye of Providence watches over it. Two mottos appear: Annuit Cœptis signifies that somebody (presumably Providence) has "nodded at (our) beginnings". Novus Ordo Seclorum, a quotation from Virgil, refers to a "new order of the ages", i.e. a paradigm shift (note that it specifically does not translate as New World Order). The reverse has never been cut (as a seal), but appears, for example, on the back of the one-dollar bill.
Since 1935, both sides of the Great Seal appear on the reverse of the One-Dollar Bill of the United States. The symbolism of the obverse is obvious—the shield is reminiscent of the national flag, and the Bald Eagle is a well-known national symbol.
That of the reverse is more murky. Many consider the eye atop the pyramid to have its origins in Masonic iconography. However, the icon is not a Masonic symbol, nor designed by a mason. Among the Great Seal committee, only Benjamin Franklin was a Mason, but his ideas were not adopted by the committee.
The all-seeing eye was a well-known classical symbol of the Renaissance. The all-seeing eye of God is mentioned several times in the Christian Bible. The eye in a triangle design originally was suggested by Pierre Eugene DuSimitiere, and later heraldist William Barton improved upon the design. In Du Simitière's original sketch, two figures stand next to a shield with the all-seeing pyramid above them. The August 20, 1776 report of the first Great Seal Committee describes the seal as "Crest The Eye of Providence in a radiant Triangle whose Glory extends over the Shield and beyond the Figures."
(wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)
1 comment:
Benjamin Franklin was not the only probable mason among the Great Seal committee. Lovell, Hopkinson, Middleton, Rutledge are also supposed to have been Masons. The eye of providence surrounded in the glory of of its own light beneath the clouds was in fact masonic during the age of enlightenment. The all-seeing eye is never mentioned in the Christian Bible - the best you can do is show Scripture which says that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. You could also say that He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, and suggest that it means He keeps His eyes open 24 hours a day. But the all-seeing eye of God is never mentioned.
Masonic teaching suggests that light is God, instead of the other way around, and so the glory of the all-seeing eye is the full truth (light) that is found in God (Providence) and radiates and falls on anyone who is not clouded from the truth. Strange indeed. Look it up
Also, you should probably credit the Wikipedia article for the text!
Post a Comment