Originally the Eye of Providence was a Christian symbol, and the earliest examples of its use can be found in religious art of the Renaissance period to represent God. Conspiracy theories thrive on cryptic symbols and covert visual signs. Compared to Wiccan, Norse, Buddhist and Hindu symbols for major gods and goddesses, the Eye of Horus has more individual lines and a complicated overall structure not as easy to reproduce as other symbols of comparable import. An early example is Pontormo’s 1525 Supper at Emmaus, although the symbol itself was painted on later, perhaps in the 1600s. The right eye of Ra represented the Sun; while the left eye of Ra represented the moon. The Eye of Ra is believed to be a force that uses violence to subdue and control its enemies. This and other Egyptian hieroglyphs of isolated human eyes went on to affect European iconography during the Renaissance. In the third millennium BCE, the Sumerians conveyed the holiness of certain sculptures by abnormally enlarging their eyes to enhance the sensation of dutiful watchfulness. Many conspiracy theorists believe the eye has connections to the Freemasons and other occult orders. If you've ever seen a person of Greek origin sporting a circular glass charm that shows a curious blue eye, then you've seen the classic Greek evil eye symbol -- the matiasma. Small fishing villages dot its shores, but the most significant settlement is the ill-omened castle of Harrenhal, located on the north shore. But it was the ancient Egyptians who were the originators of the detached eye as a motif: for example, a pair of eyes painted on a coffin that allowed the dead to see in the afterlife. It is known as the udjat from the goddess Wadjet, who is often seen protecting the king and his subordinates.Later on, it became associated with several other goddesses including Sekhmet, Isis, Bastet, Mut, Nekhbet, Tefnut and Hathor. Horus was an ancient sky god whose eyes were said to be the sun and the moon. With the help of Thoth, he later healed his eyes. The Eye of Providence: The symbol with a secret meaning? The Eye of Horus was therefore a protective symbol, often used as an amulet, a sculpture small enough for a person to carry in their pocket as a form of protection. And into our modern age, Madonna, Jay-Z and Kanye West have all been accused of using Illuminati iconography, including the Eye of Providence. When dictionaries of symbols, such as Andrea Alciati’s 1531 Emblemata and later Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia came out, the emphasis was on cryptic, often highly complex visual symbols where the viewer is enrolled as a participant in deciphering as well as constructing meanings from them. The Sumerians used abnormally large eyes to convey the holiness of divine figures (Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art). See more ideas about gods eye, god's eye craft, weaving. Pyramid with eye of Ra. The divine eye in Pontormo’s Supper at Emmaus (1525) was a later repainting, hiding a three-sided face prohibited by the Counter-Reformation (Credit: The Uffizi Galleries). The great castle of Harrenhal and its town, Harrentown, sit astride the Gods Eye's northern shore, while an unnamed town is along the southern shore. In none of those examples was Freemasonry involved with the choice of symbol. It is shown as a single human eye enclosed in a triangle and often surrounded by clouds or burst of light. It appeared as a part of Freemasonry iconography in 1797. They even held ceremonies in which artists brought the sculptures to life by ‘opening’ the figures’ eyes. In later editions, the Eye of Providence was included as an attribute of the personification of ‘Divine Providence’, ie God’s benevolence. The Eye of Horus. MILAGROS MUNDO. How has a seemingly straightforward image – an eye set within a triangle – become a lightning rod for conspiracy theorists? At that time, scholars and artists had a fascination with Egyptian writing; the only problem was that they didn’t fully understand it, and attempted translations were normally riddled with inaccuracies. The details of the early years of the original group, founded in Bavaria in 1776 and disbanded in 1787, are relatively obscure. Also known as the Eye of Providence, this symbol consists of an eye, typically enclosed in a triangle, with rays of light surrounding it. The Eye of Horus is a symbol of protection, good health and royal authority bestowed upon the pharaoh and his people. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. The Eye of Providence appeared at the top of Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier’s 1789 depiction of The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (Credit: Alamy). The repeated use of the Eye of Providence – and we can apply this as much to Madonna and Jay-Z as to Bentham, Le Barbier, Thomson, Barton, the Freemasons, Renaissance artists or pretty much any other individual or group – is proof not of a concerted conspiracy, but of its enduring brilliance as a piece of logo design. The Eye of Horus – a hybrid of a human and falcon eye – was carried as a form of protection (Credit: Alamy). All-Seeing Eye (The Eye of Providence) Ancient Egypt tattoo and t-shirt design.Horus gods, eye of Ra. 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