Eye of Providence

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The Eye of Providence (or the all-seeing eye of God) is a symbol showing an eye often surrounded by rays of light or a glory and usually enclosed by a triangle. It represents the eye of God watching over humanity (or divine providence). In the modern era, a notable depiction of the eye is the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, which appears on the United States one-dollar bill.

Video Eye of Providence

Religious use

The association of an eye with the concept of Divine Providence did not emerge until well into the Christian Era. In Renaissance European iconography the eye surrounded by a triangle was an explicit image of the Christian Trinity. Seventeenth-century depictions of the Eye of Providence sometimes show it surrounded by clouds or sunbursts.

Maps Eye of Providence

United States

In 1782, the Eye of Providence was adopted as part of the symbolism on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. It was first suggested as an element of the Great Seal by the first of three design committees in 1776 and is thought to be the suggestion of the artistic consultant, Pierre Eugene du Simitiere.

In his original proposal to the committee, Du Simitiere placed the Eye over shields symbolizing each of the original thirteen states of the Union. On the version of the seal that was eventually approved, the Eye is positioned above an unfinished pyramid of thirteen steps (again symbolizing the original States, but incorporating the nation's potential for future growth). The symbolism is explained by the motto that appears above the Eye: Annuit Coeptis, meaning "[Providence] approves (or has approved) [our] undertakings".

Perhaps due to its use in the design of the Great Seal, the Eye has made its way into other American seals and logos, for example: the Seal of Colorado and DARPA's Information Awareness Office.

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Freemasonry

Today, the Eye of Providence is often associated with Freemasonry. The Eye first appeared as part of the standard iconography of the Freemasons in 1797, with the publication of Thomas Smith Webb's Freemasons Monitor. Here, it represents the all-seeing eye of God and is a reminder that man's thoughts and deeds are always observed by God (who is referred to in Masonry as the Great Architect of the Universe). Typically, the Masonic Eye of Providence has a semi-circular glory below it. Sometimes this Masonic Eye is enclosed by a triangle.

Popular among conspiracy theorists is the claim that the Eye of Providence shown atop an unfinished pyramid on the Great Seal of the United States indicates the influence of Freemasonry in the founding of the United States. However, common Masonic use of the Eye dates to 14 years after the creation of the Great Seal. Furthermore, among the members of the various design committees for the Great Seal, only Benjamin Franklin was a Mason (and his ideas for the seal were not adopted). Indeed, many Masonic organizations have explicitly denied any connection to the creation of the Seal.

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Other uses

Coats of arms and seals

The Eye of Providence also appears on many other coats of arms and official seals, such as:

• The Coat of Arms of Bras?a?, Belarus
• The Coat of Arms of Kalvarija, Lithuania
• The Coat of Arms and Flag of Plung?, Lithuania
• The Coat of Arms and Flag of ?iauliai, Lithuania
• The Coat of Arms of Wilamowice, Poland
• Several college fraternities use the Eye of Providence in their coats of arms or badges, notably Delta Tau Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Delta Theta and Delta Kappa Epsilon
• The seal of the State of Colorado
• The seal of The University of Mississippi
• The seal of The University of Chile
• The seal of the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Currency

The Eye appears on the following currency:

• United States one-dollar bill, as part of the Great Seal (see above)
• The 50 Estonian krooni note, as part of a depiction of the pipe organ of the Käina church
• The (old) 500 Ukrainian hryvnia note

Miscellaneous

• On the original publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which also borrows iconography of the Ten Commandments
• On the front page of the Constitution of Serbia from 1835
• The Grand Kremlin Palace Andreevsky hall, Moscow, Russia
• The Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia
• The Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
• In a stained glass window of St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic
• Insignia of the UK Guards Division created in 1915
• The Steve Jackson Games logo
• Numerous video games, TV shows, films, books and websites contain depictions of the eye. A common occurrence is in the context of a reference to the Illuminati.
• The logo for the WWE tag team, The Ascension.

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Pictures

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See also

• Caodaism
• Eye of Horus
• Eye of Ra
• Third eye

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References

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External links

• Media related to Eye of Providence at Wikimedia Commons

Source of the article : Wikipedia