TheEye of Providence orAll-Seeing Eye is a symbol depicting aneye, often enclosed in a triangle and surrounded by rays of light or a halo, intended to representProvidence, as the eye watches over the workers of mankind.[1][2][3] A well-known example of the Eye of Providence appears on the reverse of theGreat Seal of the United States, which is depicted on theUnited States one-dollar bill. It also features prominently atop the original publication of France'sDeclaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.[4]
The association of an eye with the concept ofDivine Providence is found inChristianity. In lateRenaissance Europeaniconography, the Eye, surrounded by a triangle, was an explicit symbol of the ChristianHoly Trinity.[5] The Eye of Providence was later painted above an image of three faces inPontormo's 1525Supper at Emmaus.[4] Seventeenth-century depictions of the Eye sometimes show it surrounded by clouds orsunbursts.[6] The Eye of God in a triangle is still used inchurch architecture andChristian art to symbolize theTrinity and God'somnipresence and divine providence.
The Eye of Providence is notably featured on the following buildings of theRoman Catholic Church,Eastern Orthodoxy, andThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Commonly, the Eye of Providence is often associated withFreemasonry, first appearing as part of the standard Freemasoniconography in 1797 with the publication ofThomas Smith Webb'sThe Freemason's Monitor.[7][8] In this use, the Eye, representing theall-seeing eye ofGod, serves as a reminder that humanity's thoughts and deeds are always observed by God—who is referred to in Masonry as theGreat Architect of the Universe. Typically, the Masonic Eye of Providence has asemicircularglory below it, and is sometimes enclosed by atriangle. Popular amongconspiracy theorists is the claim that the Eye of Providence shown atop an unfinishedpyramid on theGreat Seal of the United States indicates the influence of Freemasonry in thefounding of the United States. However, common Masonic use of the Eye dates to 14 years after the creation of the Great Seal. Furthermore, the onlyMason among the members of the various design committees for the Great Seal wasBenjamin Franklin, whose ideas for the seal were not adopted. Likewise, various Masonic organizations have explicitly denied any connection to the creation of the Seal.[9][10]
In 1782, the Eye of Providence was adopted as part of thesymbolism featured on the reverse side of theGreat Seal of the United States. It was first proposed as an element of the Great Seal by the first of three design committees in 1776, and it is thought to be the suggestion of the artistic consultantPierre Eugene du Simitiere.[11] At the time, it was a conventional symbol for God’s benevolent oversight.[4]
In his original proposal to the committee, du Simitiere placed the Eye overshields so as to symbolize each of the originalthirteen states of the Union. On the version of the seal that would eventually be approved, the Eye is positioned above an unfinishedpyramid of thirteen steps (again symbolizing the original States, but also incorporating the nation's potential for future growth). Such symbolism is explained through the motto that appears above the Eye,annuit cœptis, meaning "He approves [our] undertakings" (or "has approved").[12][13]
Perhaps due to its use in the design of the Great Seal, the Eye has made its way into other American seals and logos, such as, for example:
The Eye of Providence has been used among various forms of currency throughout U.S. history, including:
The Eye of Providence appears in France'sDeclaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen,[4] and it appears on the front page of theConstitution of Serbia (from 1835). The Eye of Providence appears prominently on severalLithuanian coats of arms, including those ofAlovė,Baisogala,Kalvarija,Plungė andŠiauliai (for the latter two, in Eyes appear in their flags as well).
The Eye of Providence is also a feature in thecoats of arms of Victoria, Canada;Brasłaŭ,Belarus;Neman, Russia;Radekhiv,Ukraine; andRadzymin andWilamowice,Poland. The Eye was also part of the flag and coat of arms adopted by theConfederation of the Equator, a short-lived 1824secessionist revolt in thenortheastern provinces ofBrazil. In theUnited Kingdom, the symbol was part of theGuards Division insignia, created in 1915. InNigeria, the eye symbol is part of theNigeria Customs Service logo.
InEstonia, the50 krooni note shows the Eye as part of a depiction of thepipe organ of theKäina church. Likewise, the (old) 500Ukrainian hryvnia note also depicts the Eye.
Several universities and collegefraternities use the Eye of Providence in their coats of arms, seals, or badges, notably:
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