The Solomon Key: Freemason Symbols In Washington, D.C Paloma Dugan

Square and Compass h Square and compass represent the tools of a free man g Definitions of freemasonry often emphasize that a mason is someone who proves by verification, paying strict attention to the reason and not social status h Refer to how to lead a correctly lived life g square can symbolize building a life truthfully, and the compass can symbolize the spiritual or higher nature of man  “ to square his actions by the square of virtue while using the compass to circumscribe his desires and keep his passions within due bounds ” (MacNulty, 276) h Square and compass represent the tools of a free man g Definitions of freemasonry often emphasize that a mason is someone who proves by verification, paying strict attention to the reason and not social status h Refer to how to lead a correctly lived life g square can symbolize building a life truthfully, and the compass can symbolize the spiritual or higher nature of man  “ to square his actions by the square of virtue while using the compass to circumscribe his desires and keep his passions within due bounds ” (MacNulty, 276)

Triangles h Equilateral triangle- symbolizes the Perfect Being, or Deity g wholly symmetrical, thus the equilateral triangle is perfect h right triangle- a symbol of universal nature g have the base represent Osirus (the male), the other leg symbolize Isis (the female), and the hypotenuse represent the product of the two: Horus (the son)  presents God ’ s “ great handiwork universal nature ” h Equilateral triangle- symbolizes the Perfect Being, or Deity g wholly symmetrical, thus the equilateral triangle is perfect h right triangle- a symbol of universal nature g have the base represent Osirus (the male), the other leg symbolize Isis (the female), and the hypotenuse represent the product of the two: Horus (the son)  presents God ’ s “ great handiwork universal nature ”

The Three Pillars  Three pillars- stand for the trinity of Wisdom- Strength-Beauty  brotherhood teaches its members that there should be, “ Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings ” (Hodapp, 209) h Ionic pillar- massive with a scroll or book at the top. It is a fluted column and represents Wisdom h Doric pillar- also massive, but has a circle at the top--represents Strength h Corinthian Column- fluted with a spray of God's creation of beauty, flowers and a fern graces the top--represents beauty  Three pillars- stand for the trinity of Wisdom- Strength-Beauty  brotherhood teaches its members that there should be, “ Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings ” (Hodapp, 209) h Ionic pillar- massive with a scroll or book at the top. It is a fluted column and represents Wisdom h Doric pillar- also massive, but has a circle at the top--represents Strength h Corinthian Column- fluted with a spray of God's creation of beauty, flowers and a fern graces the top--represents beauty

Numbers h Numbers three, five, and seven seem to be of utmost importance to freemasons h Three- another way of expressing the sacred idea of the triangle--another symbol for the Deity h Five- Geometry (has been deemed synonymous with Freemasonry) is called the fifth science.  also a mystical number among Pythagoreans because the union of the first even number and the first odd number forms the five (2+3=5). Therefore, five symbolized the “ mixed conditions of order and disorder, happiness and misfortune, life and death. ” h Numbers three, five, and seven seem to be of utmost importance to freemasons h Three- another way of expressing the sacred idea of the triangle--another symbol for the Deity h Five- Geometry (has been deemed synonymous with Freemasonry) is called the fifth science.  also a mystical number among Pythagoreans because the union of the first even number and the first odd number forms the five (2+3=5). Therefore, five symbolized the “ mixed conditions of order and disorder, happiness and misfortune, life and death. ”

Layout of Washington D.C h A five-pointed star, a compass, a straightedge, and several well-placed squares and circles can be found on the map of Washington

The Capitol Building  One of the Capitol ’ s principal architects, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, was a Freemason h Statuary Hall- corinthian columns surround this area and of the hundred statues on display there, thirty are of Masons h The crypt that was meant meant to hold the body of George Washington- the tremendous weight of the rotunda is transferred onto a double and single circle of unfluted Doric columns. h The Apotheosis of Washington- Science image depicts a teacher demonstrating the correct use of compasses  One of the Capitol ’ s principal architects, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, was a Freemason h Statuary Hall- corinthian columns surround this area and of the hundred statues on display there, thirty are of Masons h The crypt that was meant meant to hold the body of George Washington- the tremendous weight of the rotunda is transferred onto a double and single circle of unfluted Doric columns. h The Apotheosis of Washington- Science image depicts a teacher demonstrating the correct use of compasses

Decatur House h Benjamin Henry Latrobe also designed Decatur House-- distinguished home historically as well as architecturally h The vestibule is a highly refined combination of a rectangle, square and semicircle in black and white marble that is offset by a barrel vault, shallow dome, and semicircle above h Benjamin Henry Latrobe also designed Decatur House-- distinguished home historically as well as architecturally h The vestibule is a highly refined combination of a rectangle, square and semicircle in black and white marble that is offset by a barrel vault, shallow dome, and semicircle above

The House of the Temple h The House of the Temple(also called the Temple for the Scottish Rite)- serves as the home of the Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry h Steps of the House of the Temple are tiered in sets of three, five, seven and nine h Thirty-three columns, each thirty-three feet high, support the dome h The House of the Temple(also called the Temple for the Scottish Rite)- serves as the home of the Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry h Steps of the House of the Temple are tiered in sets of three, five, seven and nine h Thirty-three columns, each thirty-three feet high, support the dome

Freemason Conspiracy? h Some conspirators claim that Freemasons played a powerful role in the founding of our country for devious and even evil purposes h Not enough substantial evidence to support these claims h Many high officials of society happen to be Freemasons- many Masonic references may have been subconsciously implemented because Freemason tenets are so ingrained upon members of the brotherhood h Freemasonry is definitely prevalent--enough Freemason symbols within Washington, D.C that Brown could draw upon for a conspiracy novel h Some conspirators claim that Freemasons played a powerful role in the founding of our country for devious and even evil purposes h Not enough substantial evidence to support these claims h Many high officials of society happen to be Freemasons- many Masonic references may have been subconsciously implemented because Freemason tenets are so ingrained upon members of the brotherhood h Freemasonry is definitely prevalent--enough Freemason symbols within Washington, D.C that Brown could draw upon for a conspiracy novel

Works Cited h “Lucifer’s Den.” The Revelation. 4 October h “Symbols Used in Freemasonry.” The Grand Lodge of Michigan. 7 October freemasonry.cfm h “Masonic Numbers.” Masonic Dictionary. 7 October h “Square and Compass.” Masonic Dictionary. 7 October h “Lucifer’s Den.” The Revelation. 4 October h “Symbols Used in Freemasonry.” The Grand Lodge of Michigan. 7 October freemasonry.cfm h “Masonic Numbers.” Masonic Dictionary. 7 October h “Square and Compass.” Masonic Dictionary. 7 October

Works Cited h “Triangle.” Masonic Dictionary. 7 October h “The Three Pillars of Freemasonry.” 3 November h “The Initiated Eye: Secrets, Symbols, Freemasonry and the Architecture of Washington, DC.” 3 November 2007.< /exhibitions/initiatedeye/index.htm/exhibitions/initiatedeye/index.htm> h Bytes, Big. “From Pentagram to Pyramids.” 7 October h “Triangle.” Masonic Dictionary. 7 October h “The Three Pillars of Freemasonry.” 3 November h “The Initiated Eye: Secrets, Symbols, Freemasonry and the Architecture of Washington, DC.” 3 November 2007.< /exhibitions/initiatedeye/index.htm/exhibitions/initiatedeye/index.htm> h Bytes, Big. “From Pentagram to Pyramids.” 7 October

Works Cited h Hodapp, Christopher. Solomon’s Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers, and the Secrets of Washington, D.C. Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press, h MacNulty, W. Kirk. Freemasonry: Symbols, Secrets, Significance. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, h Beresniak, Daniel. Symbols of Freemasonry. Paris: Editions Assouline, h Robinson, John J. Born in blood : The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry. New York : M. Evans & Co., h Clymer, R. Swinburne. The Mysticism of Masonry. Quakertown, PA: The Philosophical Publishing Company, h Taylor, Greg. The Guide to Dan Brown’s The Solomon Key. Camarillo, CA: DeVorss & Company, h Hodapp, Christopher. Solomon’s Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers, and the Secrets of Washington, D.C. Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press, h MacNulty, W. Kirk. Freemasonry: Symbols, Secrets, Significance. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, h Beresniak, Daniel. Symbols of Freemasonry. Paris: Editions Assouline, h Robinson, John J. Born in blood : The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry. New York : M. Evans & Co., h Clymer, R. Swinburne. The Mysticism of Masonry. Quakertown, PA: The Philosophical Publishing Company, h Taylor, Greg. The Guide to Dan Brown’s The Solomon Key. Camarillo, CA: DeVorss & Company, 2005.