Annuit cœptis (/ˈænuɪtˈsɛptɪs/, Classical Latin: [ˈannʊ.ɪt ˈkoe̯ptiːs]) is one of two mottos on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. The literal translation is "[He/She] favors (or "has favored") [our] undertakings", from Latinannuo ("I approve, I favor"), and coeptum ("commencement, undertaking"). Because of its context as a caption above the Eye of Providence, the standard translations are "Providence favors our undertakings" and "Providence has favored our undertakings".[1]
In 1782, Samuel Adams appointed a design artist, William Barton of Philadelphia, to bring a proposal for the national seal.[2] For the reverse, Barton suggested a 13-layered pyramid underneath the Eye of Providence. The mottos which Barton chose to accompany the design were Deo Favente ("with God's favor", or more literally, "with God favoring") and Perennis ("Everlasting"). The pyramid and Perennis motto had come from a $50 Continental currency bill designed by Francis Hopkinson.[3][a]
Barton explained that the motto alluded to the Eye of Providence: "Deo favente which alludes to the Eye in the Arms, meant for the Eye of Providence."[4] In western art, God is traditionally represented by the Eye of Providence, which principally symbolizes God's omniscience.
When designing the final version of the Great Seal, Charles Thomson (a former Latin teacher) kept the pyramid and eye for the reverse side but replaced the two mottos, using Annuit Cœptis instead of Deo Favente (and Novus ordo seclorum instead of Perennis). When he provided his official explanation of the meaning of this motto, he wrote:
The Eye over [the pyramid] and the motto Annuit Cœptis allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause.[5]
Change from Deo Favente to Annuit Cœptis
Reverse monochrome detail
Annuit Cœptis is translated by the U.S. State Department,[6] the U.S. Mint,[7] and the U.S. Treasury[8] as, "He [God] has favored our undertakings" (brackets in original). However, the original Latin does not explicitly state who (or what) is the subject of the sentence.[9]Robert Hieronimus, a scholar of American iconography, has argued that Thomson's intent was to find a phrase that contained exactly 13 letters to fit the theme of the seal.[10] On the obverse was E Pluribus Unum (13 letters), along with 13 stars, 13 horizontal stripes (on the shield on back of the one-dollar bill), 13 vertical stripes, 13 arrows, 13 olive leaves, and 13 olives. The pyramid under the motto, Annuit Cœptis, has 13 layers. According to Hieronimus, Annuit Cœptis has 13 letters and was selected to fit the theme. Deo Favente had only ten letters. However, Annuit cœptis is written with a Œligature on the seal, thus forming only 12 characters.
Classical source of the motto
According to Richard S. Patterson and Richardson Dougall, Annuit cœptis (meaning "He favours our undertakings") and the other motto on the reverse of the Great Seal, Novus ordo seclorum (meaning "new order of the ages"), can both be traced to lines by the Roman poet Virgil. Annuit cœptis comes from the Aeneid, book IX, line 625, which reads, Iuppiter omnipotens, audacibus adnue coeptis.[11] It is a prayer by Ascanius, the son of the hero of the story, Aeneas, which translates to, "Jupiter Almighty, favour [my] bold undertakings", just before slaying an enemy warrior, Numanus.
The same language also occurred in an earlier poem of Virgil, the Georgics. In line I.40 of that work is the phrase "da facilem cursum atque audacibus annue cœptis". The line is addressed to Caesar Augustus and translates to "give [us] an easy path and nod at our audacious undertakings."
Notes
^The note can be seen here, and the pyramid portion here.
^In The Oxford Handbook of Church and State in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010]
^Hieronimus, Robert (2005). Founding Fathers, Secret Societies: Freemasons, Illuminati, Rosicrucians, and the Decoding of the Great Seal. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. pp. 111–. ISBN978-1-59477-865-0.
Patterson, Richard Sharpe; Dougall, Richardson (1978) [1976 i.e. 1978]. The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States. Department and Foreign Service series ; 161 Department of State publication ; 8900. Washington : Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, Dept. of State : for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off. LCCN 78602518. OCLC 4268298.
External links
Media related to Annuit coeptis at Wikimedia Commons
January 07, 2023
annuit, cœptis, classical, latin, ˈannʊ, ˈkoe, ptiːs, mottos, reverse, side, great, seal, united, states, literal, translation, favors, favored, undertakings, from, latin, annuo, approve, favor, coeptum, commencement, undertaking, because, context, caption, ab. Annuit cœptis ˈ ae n u ɪ t ˈ s ɛ p t ɪ s Classical Latin ˈannʊ ɪt ˈkoe ptiːs is one of two mottos on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States The literal translation is He She favors or has favored our undertakings from Latin annuo I approve I favor and coeptum commencement undertaking Because of its context as a caption above the Eye of Providence the standard translations are Providence favors our undertakings and Providence has favored our undertakings 1 The reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States Contents 1 On the Great Seal 2 Change from Deo Favente to Annuit Cœptis 3 Classical source of the motto 4 Notes 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksOn the Great Seal EditIn 1782 Samuel Adams appointed a design artist William Barton of Philadelphia to bring a proposal for the national seal 2 For the reverse Barton suggested a 13 layered pyramid underneath the Eye of Providence The mottos which Barton chose to accompany the design were Deo Favente with God s favor or more literally with God favoring and Perennis Everlasting The pyramid and Perennis motto had come from a 50 Continental currency bill designed by Francis Hopkinson 3 a Barton s design with Deo Favente and Perennis Barton explained that the motto alluded to the Eye of Providence Deo favente which alludes to the Eye in the Arms meant for the Eye of Providence 4 In western art God is traditionally represented by the Eye of Providence which principally symbolizes God s omniscience When designing the final version of the Great Seal Charles Thomson a former Latin teacher kept the pyramid and eye for the reverse side but replaced the two mottos using Annuit Cœptis instead of Deo Favente and Novus ordo seclorum instead of Perennis When he provided his official explanation of the meaning of this motto he wrote The Eye over the pyramid and the motto Annuit Cœptis allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause 5 Change from Deo Favente to Annuit Cœptis Edit Reverse monochrome detail Annuit Cœptis is translated by the U S State Department 6 the U S Mint 7 and the U S Treasury 8 as He God has favored our undertakings brackets in original However the original Latin does not explicitly state who or what is the subject of the sentence 9 Robert Hieronimus a scholar of American iconography has argued that Thomson s intent was to find a phrase that contained exactly 13 letters to fit the theme of the seal 10 On the obverse was E Pluribus Unum 13 letters along with 13 stars 13 horizontal stripes on the shield on back of the one dollar bill 13 vertical stripes 13 arrows 13 olive leaves and 13 olives The pyramid under the motto Annuit Cœptis has 13 layers According to Hieronimus Annuit Cœptis has 13 letters and was selected to fit the theme Deo Favente had only ten letters However Annuit cœptis is written with a Œ ligature on the seal thus forming only 12 characters Classical source of the motto EditAccording to Richard S Patterson and Richardson Dougall Annuit cœptis meaning He favours our undertakings and the other motto on the reverse of the Great Seal Novus ordo seclorum meaning new order of the ages can both be traced to lines by the Roman poet Virgil Annuit cœptis comes from the Aeneid book IX line 625 which reads Iuppiter omnipotens audacibus adnue coeptis 11 It is a prayer by Ascanius the son of the hero of the story Aeneas which translates to Jupiter Almighty favour my bold undertakings just before slaying an enemy warrior Numanus The same language also occurred in an earlier poem of Virgil the Georgics In line I 40 of that work is the phrase da facilem cursum atque audacibus annue cœptis The line is addressed to Caesar Augustus and translates to give us an easy path and nod at our audacious undertakings Notes Edit The note can be seen here and the pyramid portion here See also Edit United States portalNovus ordo seclorum E pluribus unum Eye of Providence List of Latin phrases List of national mottos List of U S state and territory mottos United States national mottoReferences Edit Annuit Coeptis Origin and Meaning of the Motto Above the Pyramid amp Eye greatseal com MacArthur John D 2011 Third Committee Retrieved 11 25 2011 Third Committee s Design for the Great Seal 1782 greatseal com Papers of the Continental Congress item 23 folios 137 139 Journals of the Continental Congress June 1782 The Great Seal of the United States PDF U S Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs 2003 Retrieved November 25 2011 Bureau of Engraving Currency Notes U S Treasury 2010 Portraits amp Designs Retrieved 11 25 2011 In The Oxford Handbook of Church and State in the United States New York Oxford University Press 2010 Hieronimus Robert 2005 Founding Fathers Secret Societies Freemasons Illuminati Rosicrucians and the Decoding of the Great Seal Inner Traditions Bear amp Co pp 111 ISBN 978 1 59477 865 0 Vergilius Maro Publius 29 19 BC Aeneid Retrieved 11 25 2011 Further reading EditPatterson Richard Sharpe Dougall Richardson 1978 1976 i e 1978 The Eagle and the Shield A History of the Great Seal of the United States Department and Foreign Service series 161 Department of State publication 8900 Washington Office of the Historian Bureau of Public Affairs Dept of State for sale by the Supt of Docs U S Govt Print Off LCCN 78602518 OCLC 4268298 External links Edit Media related to Annuit coeptis at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Annuit cœptis amp oldid 1128822176, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
