The Great Seal - Symbology of the Back of the Dollar Bill

by Bozer

So much has already been written on this topic, I don't presume to add anything new to the discussion. However, since many who come to this site are new to this material, and people have asked me personally to explain it to them, I thought it best to put this material here for anyone interested. I am passing along information here. Use your own powers of discernment - I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything in particular.

We'll begin with the reverse of the seal on the left (figure 2, at right). Most researchers attribute the pyramid with the "all-seeing eye" as capstone to be the symbol of the Bavarian Illuminati. The Illuminati was a secret society founded by Master Mason, Professor Adam Weishaupt in 1776, hence the Roman numerals of 1776 at the base of the pyramid. The word "pyramid" can be translated to "fire at the center," again an idea related to being "illuminated" (more below) If the three-dimensional shape of the pyramid is flattened out by separating it at the edges, it becomes the two dimensional cross of the Knights Templar (Figure 2b at left) whom Freemasonry claims as its origin.

The all-seeing eye is the all-seeing eye of Horus. Being placed at the top of the puramid is what makes it all-seeing or "enlightened" or in the tradition of the Illuminati, illuminated, by fact of it appearing at the pinnacle of the pyramid. This represents being able to see the whole picture and therefore understand "all sides." The view is top down, as represented by the Templar Cross (again, Figure 2b). The lay people or subordinates are only on one side of the pyramid, and only able to see what appears on that one side. The enlightened, who see through the eyes of God, are able to see all sides simultaneously, representing wisdom, or reason. It also represents that through reason, one can know the mind of God.

In addition, the eqilateral triangle containing the eye is a symbol of Pythagorean mysteries, particularly what is known as the tetraktys, ten dots forming an equilateral triangle. The tetraktys is too large of a concept to discuss here, but to learn more, Google can help you out there...

Annuit Coeptus roughly translates to "He approves of our enterprise," juxtaposed next to the Eye of Horus, implying that Horus (God) approves of the creation of the united states of America, or in the case of the Illuminati, the creation of the secret society.

Conspiracy theorists frequently point out that the Freemasons left clues that they created the seal, "for those with eyes to see." And indeed, symbologists understand that proximity and alignment of images, and even symmetry, can convey meaning in negative space. By drawing striaght lines along key edges of the image, I created a common symbol of Masonic significance, the "Seal" of Solomon, often mistakenly taken for a strictly Jewish religious sigil (Figure 3a, at right, note Figure 3b, at left). The symbol has several meanings, some of which represent complex mathematics and the god (and planet) Saturn. Again, this is a repetition of the Pythagorean tetraktys superimposed over itself, with one in the masculine blade position, pointing upward, and the feminine chalice or yoni position, pointing downward. This is the alchemical union of opposites, masculine and feminine. Also, when these lines are drawn, the points of the hexagram point to the letters A, S, N, O, and M, which theorists then point out is an anagram for MASON.

Novus Ordo Seclorum means, New Secular Order, which some choose to relate to the New World Order. If there is indeed a connection between the Illuminati and the Freemasonic founding fathers, and the Great Seal, this could be illustrating that the Illuminati wanted to usher in a secular world order, a world ruled by reason, not by Divine Right or superstition, and were revealing it to the initiated in this symbol.

The pyramid rising surrounded by desert, represents the rising of knowledge amid desolation, and is remoniscent of the meaning of the pheonix symbolism of the other side of the seal, to be dealt with below. As previously stated, pyramid means, "fire at the center," or the "fire amid." Fire is a traditional symbol of knowledge - it can be used for good or for evil, it can warm or it can burn, and such is true of knowledge.

The pyramid is also the first place we encounter the symbolism of the number 13. Orthodox opinion runs that this is an obvious reference to the original 13 colonies that became the united states of America. However, in esoteric circles, particularly those of the Pythagorean and Egyptian mystery religions, 13 is the number of the perfected man or, the perfected god-man. The number 13 figures prominently on the other side of the Great Seal.

The eagle is a traditional symbol of Zeus, the highest of all the Greek gods (Figure 4). However the double-headed phoenix is the emblem of many secret societies, including the Illuminati, and our eagle is indeed "double-headed." The phoenix-like eagle looks toward the laurel with its 13 leaves in its right claw (to the left), showing our tendency toward peace, but just in case, in the other claw are the arrows of war. The rug in the Oval Office bears this emblem. In times of war, the rug is switched by staff over night, with a rug displaying the eagle facing the opposite direction, toward the thirteen arrows symbolizing war thereby completing the double-headed phoenix symbol. Numbers play an equally important role in the wings as well.

The eagle's right wing (again on the left of the picture) contains 32 feathers, a number significant to all Freemasons as well as representing the 32nd degree in Freemasonry. The left wing (on the right of the picture) contains 33 feathers, representing the highest degree of known Freemasonry, also of special significance. Both numbers are full of meaning for Masons, but the significance is too lengthy to go into here. When I get time I'll add a whole page on the numerology part of the picture...

13 continues to play a role in this side of the Great Seal, in the formation of stars above the eagle's head in the form of a hexagram. 13 stars create a pattern made up, once again, of two intersecting pythagorean tetraktys in the same formation as stated above (see Figure 5 at right). The six pointed star appears in the center of the "multi-foliate rose." This rose pattern figures prominently in The Rosicrucian Order, and several secret societies who claim heredity from the original Bavarian Illuminati. In 1785 they were banned and reportedly broke up. Many researchers believe they went underground and started other groups including the Rosi Croix (Rosicrucians, though they reportedly predate the Illuminati), Crowley's Order of the Golden Dawn and the O.T.O.

One last, especially occult symbol appearing on the front of the dollar is the owl (Figure 6). The pet of Pallas Athena and a symbol of occult wisdom. The owl is an important symbol to secret societies representing wisdom because of its ability to "see in the dark." Occult simply means "hidden." Owls have the uncanny ability to not only see in the dark, or what is hidden much like their secret society member counterparts, but they can also rotate their heads nearly 360 degrees, seeing in all directions. This echoes the all-seeing eye within the triangle as capstone of the pyramid being able to see the "whole picture." Critics claim that conspiracy theorists only see what they want to see and this "pattern recognition" is only an artifact or pattern created by a congruence of lines made by the background pattern of lines. Considering the level of detail attended in the creation of that pattern by the engravers, I personally find that difficult to believe.

And a final word from Manly P. Hall:

"... the design on the reverse of the Great Seal is even more definitely related to the Order of the Quest. The pyramid and the all-seeing eye represent the Universal House surmounted by the radiant emblem of the Great Architect of the Universe.... These three symbols in combination is more than a chance or coincidence." - p. 173 MPH - The Secret Destiny of America

SOURCES:

Jordan Maxwell

Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Lincoln, Baigent and Leigh

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

The Secret Destiny of America, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and The Phoenix by Manly Palmer Hall

fig. 1

fig. 2 "On the reverse of our nation's Great Seal is an unfinished pyramid to represent human society itself, imperfect and incomplete. Above floats the symbol of the esoteric orders, the radient triangle with its all-seeing eye..." p. 174 MPH, The Secret Destiny of America.

fig. 2b

fig. 3a

Figure 3b -

fig. 4 "Is the American Eagle actually a Phoenix? Selection of the fabulous bird of the ancients seems to have been the intention of the designer of our nation's Great Seal. The Phoenix is the symbol of those Reborn in Wisdom..." p. 173 MPH The Secret Destiny of America

fig. 5

It's all this AND a bag of chips...

Lame joke, I know, but I really couldn't resist. Are you wise to the symbols being used here? Why is the owl carrying a black and white checkerboard? Odd? I'd say so, if the black and white checkerboard pattern wasn't a universal symbol for the conjunction of opposites and control through polarity, i.e., the Hegelian dialectic, amongst other meanings, worthy of their own page on this site...