Seal of the US has 13 stars in shape of Star of David, 13 arrows, 13 pyramid steps, 13 shield stripes, 13 olive leaves, 13 olives, 13 letters in annuit coeptis, 13 letters in e pluribus unum, and 9 feathers (old calendar was 13 months with 9 months for planting season). Pyramid represents enlightment. Architectural symbol emblemeatic of ancient man’s ability to break free from his earthly plane and ascend upward toward heaven, toward the golden sun, and ultimately, toward the supreme source of illimination - a portal. Unfinished Pyramid has flat top, like one on the dollar bill, symbolic reminder that man’s ascent to his full human potential was always a work in progress. The Unfinished pyramid waits for its shining capstone, hovering above as a reminder of America’s yet-unfulfilled destiny and the work to be done, both as a country and as individuals. Capstone on Washington Monument weighs 3500 pounds, for 35th level of Mason’s, and capstone is aluminum (most expensive metal at the time), words are Opeus Dei (Word of God). On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved. If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin’s belief that one man couldn’t do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, ‘God has favored our undertaking.’ The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, ‘a new order has begun.’ At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI). ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ is on his currency. If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery , and is the centerpiece of most hero’s monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States , and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean. The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle’s beak you will read, ‘ E PLURIBUS UNUM’ meaning, ‘one from many.’ Above the Eagle, you have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows. They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in, ‘Annuit Coeptis,’ 13 letters in ‘E Pluribus Unum,’ 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know that it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions but died a pauper. The Great Seal of the United States The unfinished pyramid and the eye in a triangle on the reverse side are classic symbols. The Egyptian pyramid is a symbol of strength and duration; the 13 steps indicate the original number of U.S. states; and the 13 steps leading to an unfinished summit indicates future growth of the nation. The eye is known as the “Eye of Providence” and is surrounded by rays of light. According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, “providence” can mean: 1.a looking to, or preparation for, the future; provision. 2.skill or wisdom in management; prudence. 3.a) the care or benevolent guidance of God or nature, b) an instance of this. 4.God, as the guiding power of the universe. The single eye shows up in Egyptian mythology as the Eye of Horus, an ancient god of the Egyptians. The eye represented wisdom, health and prosperity. Some people think that the “all-seeing eye” is a symbol of Freemasonry, a fraternal organization, and they interpret this as proof that the Founding Fathers believed in Masonic principles and wanted to impose Masonic order on the United States. This essay about the Eye in the Pyramid addresses that rumor. Here are the other symbols on the Great Seal. The obverse side: • The 1782 secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson, adopted the bald eagle as the prominent feature of the design. • The shield, or escutcheon, is shown on the breast of the eagle without any support, indicating the self-reliance of the United States. Thirteen red and white stripes appear on the shield, signifying the 13 original states. The red color represents hardiness and valor, and the white represents purity and innocence. These stripes support and unite with the top blue band, which represents Congress. Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. • The eagle’s talons hold 13 arrows in the right and an olive branch in the left. These symbolize the power of war and peace, respectively. The number of arrows represents the 13 original states. • The constellation of 13 stars (states) above the eagle’s head signifies the United States’ rank among other sovereign powers. • The motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” written on the banner held in the eagle’s beak, is Latin meaning “Out of many, one,” conveying the union of the States. The reverse side: • The pyramid • The eye in the triangle above the pyramid • The Roman numerals, MDCCLXXVI, appear on the base of the pyramid and translate to 1776, the year of independence. • Above the “eye” are the Latin words “Annuit Coeptis.” This translates to “He has favored our undertakings.” This line is associated with the “Eye of Providence.” • Below the pyramid are the Latin words “Novus Ordo Seclorum,” meaning “A new order of the ages,” referring to the birth of America in 1776. In 1935, the Department of Treasury proposed the use of the obverse and reverse sides of the Great Seal on the back of the $1 bill, originally with the obverse on the left hand side and the reverse on the right. Before approving the design, President Franklin Roosevelt decided to switch the order of sides of the seal, and then added “The Great Seal” under the reverse and “of the United States” under the obverse.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:40:54 +0000
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