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The Eye of Providence or the '''all-seeing eye''' is a symbol showing an eye surrounded by Ray s of Light or a Glory , and usually enclosed by a Triangle . It is commonly interpreted as representing the eye of God keeping watch on Mankind . ORIGIN In its current form, the symbol first appeared in the west during the 17th & 18th centuries, but representations of an all-seeing eye can be traced back to Egyptian Mythology and the Eye Of Horus . 17th-century depictions of the Eye of Providence sometimes show it surrounded by Cloud s. The later addition of an enclosing triangle is usually seen as a more explicit Trinitarian reference to the God of Christianity . woodcut, showing the all-seeing eye of God floating in the sky.]] version of the Eye of Providence, emphasising the triangle representing the Trinity .]] .]] 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 . The Eye was introduced by the original design committee of 1776 , and is thought to be the suggestion of the artistic consultant, Pierre Eugene Du Simitiere . On the seal, the Eye is surrounded by the words '' Annuit Cœptis '', meaning "It Eye of Providence is favorable to our undertakings". The Eye is positioned above an unfinished pyramid with thirteen steps, representing the original thirteen states and the future growth of the country. The combined implication is that the Eye, or God, favors the prosperity of the United States. The Great Seal is used to endorse official United States documents. As such, it is reproduced, along with the Eye of Providence, on the back of every One Dollar Bill . version of the Eye of Providence with clouds and a semi-circular glory.]] FREEMASONRY The Eye of Providence also appears as part of the Iconography of the Freemasons . The all-seeing eye is then a reminder that a Mason's deeds are always observed by the Grand Architect Of The Universe . Typically the Masonic Eye of Providence has a semi-circular glory below the eye — often the lowest rays extend further down. Sometimes the Eye is enclosed by a triangle, but here this is seen as a reference to the Freemason's preference for the number three in Numerology . Other variations of the symbol can also be found, with the eye itself being replaced by the letter ‘G’, representing the Grand Architect. The first official Masonic reference to the Eye of Providence is in ''The Freemasons Monitor'' by Thomas Smith Webb in 1797 , some years after the Great Seal was designed. The Masonic use of the Eye does not incorporate a pyramid, although the enclosing triangle is often interpreted as one. It is a popular Urban Legend or Conspiracy Theory that the Eye of Providence and unfinished Pyramid show the influence of Freemasonry in the founding of the United States. This was recently dramatised in the Disney film '' National Treasure ''. Among the original design committee for the Great Seal Of The United States , only Benjamin Franklin was a Mason, but his ideas were not adopted by the committee and he may not even have been aware of it. Many masonic organisations have denied any special connection. VIRGIN OF GARABANDAL According to some sources during an Apparition of the Virgin Mary at the village of Garabandal , she was seen next to a flaming Eye in the Pyramid. UFO LORE According to some UFO witnesses, there have been several sightings of Men In Black wearing a symbol resembling the Eye in the Pyramid, sometimes with a lightning bolt through the eye. This symbol can often be found on their cars or lapels. CAO DAI The Vietnam ese religion Cao Dai , as well as a number of other churches, uses the Eye of Providence (specifically, the left eye) within a triangle to represent God. ILLUMINATI Today some Conspiracy Debunkers link the symbol with conspiracy organizations, especially Adam Weishaupt 's Bavarian Illuminati . This is possibly the only context in which the Eye of Providence is shown actually embedded in a pyramid. The eye is meant to be the eye of Lucifer, as he is sometimes referenced as an all seeing eye in some biblical passages. CURRENT USAGE
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