Eye of Providence

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 is sometimes interpreted as representing the eye of God watching over humankind (or divine providence).^[1]^[2]^[3] In the modern era, the most 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.

Religious use

Imagery of an all-seeing eye can be traced back to Egyptian mythology and the Eye of Horus. Buddhist texts like the Mahaparinibbana Sutta also refer to Buddha as the "Eye of the World" (although no imagery is used). It is frequently used to depict the image of God in Caodaism.^{[citation needed]}

In Medieval and Renaissance European iconography, the Eye (often with the addition of an enclosing 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

On the seal, the Eye is surrounded by the words Annuit Cœptis, meaning "He approves (or has approved) [our] undertakings", and Novus Ordo Seclorum, meaning "New Order of the Ages". The Eye is positioned above an unfinished pyramid with thirteen steps, representing the original thirteen states and the future growth of the country. The lowest level of the pyramid shows the year 1776 in Roman numerals. The combined implication is that the Eye, or God, favors the prosperity of the United States.

Perhaps due to its use in the design of the Great Seal, the Eye has made its way into other American seals and logos, notably the Seal of Colorado and DARPA's Information Awareness Office. It is also part of the City Seal of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Freemasonry

An early Masonic version of the Eye of Providence with clouds and a semi-circular glory

Today, the Eye of Providence is usually 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.^[6] Here, it represents the all-seeing eye of God and is a reminder that a Mason'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 the eye. Sometimes the 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. This was dramatized in the 2004 Disney film National Treasure. 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, however Benjamin Franklin was not the only 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.^[7]^[8]

Other uses

Coats of arms and seals

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

The Coat of Arms of Brasłaŭ, Belarus
The Coat of Arms and Flag of Šiauliai, Lithuania
Several college fraternities use the Eye of Providence in their coats of arms and/or badges, notably Delta Tau Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Delta Theta and Delta Kappa Epsilon
The seal of The University of Mississippi
The seal of The University of Chile

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 500 Ukrainian hryvnia note

Other contexts

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 Serbian Constitution of 1835
The Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia
The Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
Insignia of the UK Guards Division created in 1915
The Steve Jackson Games logo
In the animated series Arthur, the All Seeing Eye is above Prunella's bed
Numerous video games contain depictions of the eye
In the TV show "Then Came Bronson", the symbol appears on the tank of his motorcycle
In the animated series Gravity Falls, there is a mythical, omnipotent figure named Bill Cipher that resembles the symbol
In the TV show Revolution, the Patriot organization uses a symbol containing the Eye of Providence

Pictures

An alchemical woodcut showing the all-seeing eye of God floating in the sky.
Original seal of the DARPA Information Awareness Office.
An all-seeing eye that appears on the gate of Aachen Cathedral.
The Eye of Providence can be seen on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, seen here on the US $1 bill
An all-seeing eye that appears on the pedestal decorations of Alexander Column.
An all-seeing eye that appears on the top of Declaration of Human Rights (1789), French Revolution.
An all-seeing eye that appears in a triangle at the facade of an Esoteric Christian Temple (1920), Mount Ecclesia.
The eye of providence on the exterior of at Salta Cathedral
The Eye of Providence is depicted in the stained glass window of a church in Fifield, Wisconsin.