WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2008

Great Seal Of U.S. Mysteries Revealed

Government Debunks Myths Surrounding One Of America's Oldest Symbols

  • The Great Seal of  the U.S. Photo

    The Great Seal of the U.S.  (AP)

(AP)  Conspiracy theorists take note: The myths surrounding one of America's oldest and most enduring national symbols are about to be debunked ... if you believe the government, that is.

The keepers of the Great Seal of the United States, the familiar emblem on the back of the $1 bill, want you to know what it is not. It is not a sign that Freemasons run the country, it has nothing to do with the occult, and it does not contain clues to a fabulous hidden treasure.

It is rather the nation's stamp of authority, sovereignty and power, gracing our cash and embossing the most important of documents from its home at the State Department, which has held it since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the first secretary of state.

Not that the Seal's symbols - the all-seeing eye, the unfinished pyramid, the Latin phrases, the bald eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows and the number 13 - aren't powerful.

They are, historians say. Yet their meanings have been misidentified, misunderstood and misrepresented almost since the Continental Congress first commissioned the Seal in 1776.

It would be another six years before the original design was approved and another 128 before it evolved into its current form. Along the way, a movement to decipher the Seal's meaning with ancient Egyptian, mystical and otherwise otherworldly explanations has gained currency.

The Internet age has seen an explosion in such conspiracy theories, many which have now been ingrained in public consciousness through the popular "National Treasure" movie franchise that serves up a combination of Masonic lore and historical myths in blockbuster Hollywood fashion.

Among them:

  • That the Seal proves the domination of the United States by a powerful, quasi-religious cult. The Ancient Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a perennial favorite of conspiracy theorists as some Founding Fathers were Masons and the Seal uses several Masonic symbols.

  • That the Seal draws on Satanism or polytheistic ritual to promote a universal new world order under which Earth would be ruled by a single omnipotent government.

  • That repeated references to 13 - the number of steps in the unfinished pyramid, stars in the constellation over the eagle's head, arrows in the eagle's claw, stripes on the eagle's shield, letters in the phrase "Annuit Coeptis" - demonstrate the power of 13 American families.

  • That there are two seals: one in which the eagle's head faces the arrows for times of war and another in which the eagle's head faces the olive branch for times of peace.

    All rubbish, according to historians, who say the Seal's symbolism is far less ominous or revelatory than many believe.

    Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Seal's 66th and current custodian, on Tuesday inaugurated a new exhibition to commemorate its 225th birthday and trace the history and evolution of the symbolism.

    "This exhibit honoring the Great Seal affirms our continued belief in the values of our founding," she said. "The Great Seal symbolizes the unity, strength and independence of a new nation, the United States of America."

    The Seal will remain at the State Department but the interactive exhibit is designed to travel and curators hope it will dispel the rumors and educate Americans about the real meaning of the symbols.

    Among the highlights:

  • That known Masons like the first U.S. president, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin had no role in designing the final seal, which uses elements of traditional heraldry, such as the unfinished pyramid to symbolize a work in progress, arrows for war and an olive branch for peace. Masons share some of those symbols, but they have never been exclusively the domain of the order.

  • That the phrase "Novus Ordo Seculorum" below the Roman numerals for 1776 at the base of the pyramid translates as "A New Order of the Ages" that began with independence and does not imply the United States will be the lynchpin of a sinister "New World Order."

  • That the words "Annuit Coeptis" ("Providence favors") and the eye of providence that hovers over the pyramid refer to unexpected interventions of fate that assisted the colonists in creating a new country.

  • That the references to 13 refer to the number of colonies that formed the original United States.

    "People are just not aware of the complexity and intent of the symbolism and what our Founding Fathers were trying to do with it," said Priscilla Linn, senior curator at the U.S. Diplomacy Center. "The hidden treasure in the Seal is the courage and presence of mind of the people who created it and created these values for the whole country."


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    Add a Comment See all 43 Comments
    by tortosa February 12, 2008 4:46 PM PST
    Whether these symbols are or are not Masonic is at least debatable, but get the translations from Latin correct. "Annuit Coeptis" is not "Providence favors." It is taken from Virgil and means, "He (the Divinity) has favored our undertakings."
    Reply to this comment
    by inventagod February 12, 2008 4:50 PM PST

    Oh great - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will tell us what is what... Bu$hLiar of the century about to debunk conspiracy theories...
    Reply to this comment
    by xraytwonine February 12, 2008 5:19 PM PST
    people always wanted to believe that there are more to their pathetic existence... it turns out everything, everything...was only causal coincidence after the big bang.
    Reply to this comment
    by lorinkundert February 12, 2008 5:29 PM PST
    The Government doesn''t even comprehend the purpose and scope of the Constitution, how can they tell us what the great seal means?
    Reply to this comment
    by reel-crazy February 12, 2008 5:36 PM PST

    "...if you believe the government"

    How can we all not believe the government after they have told us so many facts in the past?

    Reply to this comment
    by random_radar February 12, 2008 5:38 PM PST
    It would be an awfully moronic conspiracy to advertise themselves with the great seal. Conspiracies are supposed to be secret.

    Why not take the easy route and interpret the seal symbolism in terms of the founding of the nation? Occam''s Razor says the simple solution is generally the best solution. Conspiracy theorists are thinking too hard.
    Reply to this comment
    by aeasus February 12, 2008 5:47 PM PST
    How is a pyramid American? When did latin become our language?
    Reply to this comment
    by prinzowhales February 12, 2008 5:56 PM PST
    The image of the pyramid and what has been called the Eye of Horus should be considered as one--and it is memorialized at bottom by the words "Novus Ordo Seclorum". The image is complete...what bothers the human eye is the absence of a fixed capstone upon the platform at the top of the pyramid-like structure, this would never cross the mind of the ancient Egyptian. The image places Horus/Sothis above man and his works, separate, watchful, exalted--and that, is ''the order of the ages'' ''favoured by the Divinity''...Isis, Sothis, Horus...to surplant the perceived abberation of the Christian age.
    Reply to this comment
    by effjay4 February 12, 2008 6:06 PM PST
    walt1944, what are going to do for a living when Bush is out next year? SIG HEIL, McCain?
    Reply to this comment
    by prinzowhales February 12, 2008 6:09 PM PST
    The biggest secrets are best concealed in the open. Man does not think to look at what is before his eyes.
    Its the safest place in the world to place a message.
    Modern man doesn''t even bother to consider what is in the food he eats or behind the candidates he ''likes''.

    A message can be carved in stone and placed in broad daylight--such as the Georgia Guidestones--and he gawks at it and goes about his business. Merck Pharmaceutcal can murder tens of thousands with Vioxx and he ignores it...the World Trade Center towers can be struck by planes and destroyed by demolitions before his very eyes and he will buy the most perfectly implausible scenario imaginable, as long as it is presented with a straight face, by a plausible person in suit and tie he''ll accept it over the evidences of his own eyes.....
    Reply to this comment
    by awoloilman February 12, 2008 6:14 PM PST
    Right.

    And the WTC Towers collapsed due to jet fuel burning for under an hour.

    People believe anything you tell them these days.

    Simps.
    Reply to this comment
    by stezzer February 12, 2008 6:22 PM PST
    It''s simply the theory of Occam''s razor or lex parsimoniae, "entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem", or "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity".

    In other words, conspiracy nuts are just nuts. Look at the basic facts, they''re usually correct.
    Reply to this comment
    by amazedd February 12, 2008 6:36 PM PST
    There are two kinds of people: Those who have their lives cut out for them, and all they have to do is obey their masters. And free-men, who have nobody to tell them what to do and must, unfortunately, think for themselves. Like in the New World.
    Reply to this comment
    by cpaide February 12, 2008 7:26 PM PST
    well, that does it for me: i didn''t previously believe all the cr@p on the internet about these mysterious symbols but now that the bush-shat government is denying it, i think it all must be true. all politicians have been crazy b@stards from the very beginning, starting with washington and jefferson.
    Reply to this comment
    by salty1954 February 12, 2008 7:40 PM PST
    Lies lies lies - That''s what you can expect from the government.
    Reply to this comment
    by d33pthroat1 February 12, 2008 7:48 PM PST
    Freemasons? I thought it was about drugs!

    The eagle''s talons hold not an olive branch, as is traditionally stated, but a cluster of marijuana leaves with buds visible. The marijuana symbolism on the great seal is confirmed by the use of the colors red and white in colored versions, and on the flag of the United States. Red and white were first used as official colors by the followers of Hassan-i-Sabbah founder of the Hashishim or The Assassins. By 1094 these elite troops, wearing the white tunics and red sashes characteristic of their sect, had made Hasan the most powerful warlord in the area now called the Middle East. They imported hemp from India and extracted a narcotic which is today named, hash for their sect. The thirteen horizontal red and white stripes have been associated with the drug trade, at least since they were used by the British East India Company on their ships carrying narcotics. The number thirteen is also the traditional code for marijuana. The code for marijuana is shown in the shield placed upon the eagle%u2019s chest. The shield bears the thirteen stripes of the British East India Companies flag (later the flag of the United States) turned vertically.

    No wonder dollar bills can be used to roll perfect joints! And.. Clinton, Bush, Obama have all admitted being ex-pot smokers. Coincidence? Hmmmmm..
    Reply to this comment
    by ov442 February 12, 2008 8:21 PM PST
    oh what a load of ***, everyone knows the ones "debunking" the myths are the ones that control the true meanings and have the secrets in long forgotten locations underground and that the movie National Treasure was all true!
    hehee
    Masons are a cult, just like mormons with Brigham young and smith''s polygamy forced on so many women and children for their perverted use of christianity to make themselves powerful diety like characters.
    Reply to this comment
    by michellem99-2009 February 12, 2008 9:32 PM PST
    tHEY HAD A PROGRAMME ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL ABOUT THIS..Did Dr.Rice not watch it..They said differently Dear..
    Reply to this comment
    by rgmiron February 12, 2008 9:45 PM PST
    The Freemasons have had a great deal of influence in the creation of this country, from the constitution to the dollar bill, you sceptic and conspiritor believers JUST CRACK ME UP!!!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by rgmiron February 12, 2008 9:47 PM PST
    I''m not a Freemason, just wanted to set the record.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:03 PM PST
    The Great Seal of These United States: The Great Seal, designed by Franklin, Jefferson, and John Adams, presents three esoteric symbols. On the obverse side is the Eagle , representing the rebirth of wisdom. On the reverse side is the All Seeing Eye, representing "The Grand Architect of the Universe", and the unfinished Pyramid, representing the incompleteness of human society. The Pyramid of 72 stones, forming 13 rows, represents the Impersonal Godhead. There are two Latin phrases; Novus Ordo Seclorum, meaning "New Order of the Ages," and Annuit Coeptis, meaning" God has smiled on our undertakings." Although the space between the unfinished Pyramid and the "Eye" represents the space between us and our Divine Self.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:08 PM PST
    The Masons offered this explanation themselves: "This design reveals the "Hidden Word", the "Lost Word" Ancient Freemasonry. The mofit used is the pyramid, for in ancient eras where Freemasonry originated, the mission was the same as it is today: to do God''s Will on Earth. This labor is unfinished; Therefore the Pyramid on the Seal is not completed. Each Brother must contribute his portion, knowing that his work is watched over and guided by the All Seeing Eye of God."
    Reply to this comment
    by cfin5 February 12, 2008 10:20 PM PST
    Correction,.....This is the "REVERSE" Great Seal of the United States.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:23 PM PST
    According to Hieronimus, George Washington, who "defended the integrity of the Masonic Lodge" and promoted "the honor and prosperity of the Craft", took his first degree of Masonry in Virginia in 1752. AG Mackey says that Washingtons'' attainment of higher degrees are recorded in the transaction of the Virginia Lodge. All but two of Washington''s generals were Freemasons. Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 50 were Freemasons. The first Continental Congress was presided over by Peyton Randolph, a past Grand Master of the Virginia Freemasons. And of the 55 members of the Constitutional convention all but five were Freemasons., Spain, said to have been a mason even wrote an essay on ancient Freemasonry. American presidents that were Freemasons include Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Munro, Jackson, poll, Buchanan, Garfield, McKinley, both Roosevelt''s, Taft, Harding, Truman, Ford, Reagan and Bush. Although presidents John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams were not Freemasons, they were members of another secret society called Dragon''s, a spiritual and Earth friendly society i.e. ecologically minded. These excerpts I have provided are from the book "The Mystical Quest for Democracy" by Dorothy Leon.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:25 PM PST
    Typo: Spain should read Thomas Paine {I''m using word recognition software, my bad}
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:25 PM PST
    Typo: Spain should read Thomas Paine {I''m using word recognition software, my bad}
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:26 PM PST
    Typos: monro and poll should read, Monroe and Polk. again, my bad.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 10:34 PM PST
    Also from the book by Dorothy Leon: Hall relates: "The obverse of the great seal has been used by the Department of State since 1782, but the reverse was not cut at that time because it was regarded as a symbol of a secret society and not the proper device for a sovereign state... Most American citizens learned [about]... the design when it appeared on the dollar bill series 1935A."
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 February 12, 2008 11:13 PM PST
    "A New Order of the Ages" that began with independence and does not imply the United States will be the lynchpin of a sinister "New World Order."

    Lynchpin. What an accurate Freudian misspelling.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 12, 2008 11:44 PM PST
    I should add that the number 72 i.e. number of bricks in the pyramid, is very esoteric. There are 72 names of God, 72 Angels of the Quinaries in Spiritual Astrology, 7+2=9 the number of God in numerology and there''s more...but I think you get the idea.
    Reply to this comment
    by michellem99-2009 February 13, 2008 12:23 AM PST
    fREEMASONS..THEY ARE EVIL..
    Reply to this comment
    by michellem99-2009 February 13, 2008 12:26 AM PST
    That is right..the mormon temple garments have freemason sybols on them..I have seen them...
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 12:28 AM PST
    Michell, there are many that call themselves Freemasons. Ther are far fewer true ones. There ranks have been infiltrated for years. The true ones are the followers of Saint Germain.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 12:52 AM PST
    libs, then why are you even bothering to read the article? Are you a nihilist? It seems you are troubled yet serching for answers. The answers lie in study and study you must. Our founding fathers were of a league of believers of true freedom of Christian morals and practices, that is SO WHAT AND WHAT IS SHALL BE THE WAS OF WHAT SHALL BE!
    Reply to this comment
    by cfin5 February 13, 2008 8:06 AM PST
    George Washington wasn''t into freemasonry much according to his words. Even the painting of him in their manner of dress that I''ve seen actually says by the painter,...."Painted in abstention" (He did not pose for the painting). The lower "blue lodge" members are intentionally mislead by higher degrees for various reasons and is the norm this way clear up the ladder. But at the top they worship Lucifer according to Sovereign Grand Master Albert Pike. It is indeed a root of "MYSTERY BABYLON".
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 9:19 AM PST
    Bernard Fay reported that on December 27, 1778 Washington marched in a parade in Philadelphia "in full Masonic attire, and insignia of the Brotherhood." But, staunchly against the Illuminati and the Jacobinism Orders, he "dealt them a blow that led to their disappearance." from Dorthy Leons'' book.
    Reply to this comment
    by kevzgrl February 13, 2008 9:25 AM PST
    To MichelleM99: I usually am in agreement with a lot of what you say, particularly when it comes to child abuse/crime and poverty issues. However, on this one, I will have to differ BIG TIME. My father was a Past Grandmaster Mason in his lodge, and my father was NOT a Satan worshiper. He was an upstanding, Christan man who read the Bible every night and was in church every time the doors were open. He raised me and two sisters in the church and I am comforted to KNOW he is in Heaven right now, praising God and walking the streets of gold. Just because you have a prejudice against Masons is no reason to state they are evil. What if someone were to say "sight challenged older women are Satan worshipers" - would that seem fair or reasonable to you??? Learn a little bit about it and about some of the wonderful men who were and are Masons before you speak out against something you obviously don''t understand or know much about.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 9:48 AM PST
    Albert Pikes words have been takenout of context and/or mis-understood for over 100 years, and his book Morals and Dogma is not a definative of the Templars or the Masonic Order. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Lucifer, the light bearer can be astrologically interprted and it was, by most analysis, intended as allegorical.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 9:55 AM PST
    I have a book going to print today, "The Astrological Birth Chart of Jesus. A Template for the Time." It should set the record straight as to who is conning whom. It is being published by TGS Publishing, Texas. The Catholic Church has been up to no good for 0ver 1700 years and the book will explain when and where these acts of dis-information and subterfuge on the part of the Vatican have occured. I am the grandson of Roman Catholic immigrants [Italian] and the great [x8] grandson of a Quaker founding father whom was a Mason. Thus no one can imply I was originally partial to either belief.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 10:27 AM PST
    For more TRUE INFORMATION go to DorthyLeon.com She is the appointed biographer of the true Templar and Freemason history. She was appointed by Saint Germain himself.
    Reply to this comment
    by piercetheval February 13, 2008 10:34 AM PST
    Excuse me that should read dorothyleon.com...May God Bless you all in striving for the truth.
    Reply to this comment
    by rf35 February 13, 2008 4:01 PM PST
    Conspiracy theorists are funny!
    Reply to this comment
    by cfin5 February 13, 2008 4:11 PM PST
    The Catholic Church has been up to no good for 0ver 1700 years and the book will explain when and where these acts of dis-information and subterfuge on the part of the Vatican have occured.

    Posted by piercetheval at 09:55 AM : Feb 13, 2008------This is true. In fact, it is "MYSTERY BABYLON" the mother of harlots. So who do you think her children are? Like mother, like daughters. Many Cardinals openly don Masonic rings,......read Revelation Chapter 17 in its entirety. Rome ruled the world at the time the Apostle John was instructed to write down the things that he heard and saw.
    Reply to this comment
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