Our Nation's Not-So-Christian History: Steeped In The Ancient Wisdom Of Freemasonry

THE FRESCO  "APOTHEOSIS OF  WASHINGTON " ADORNS THE DOME OF OUR CAPITOL'S ROTUNDA

George Deified

Apotheosis means to become or be made a god.  A depiction of George Washington becoming God is painted on the dome of the rotunda of our nation's capital building.  And just in case one might think it was merely a little overzealousness about George as our nation's first President, let's look at the rest of the Fresco.

Minerva of Science

Minerva, the Roman goddess of crafts and wisdom, is portrayed with helmet and spear pointing to an electrical generator creating power stored in batteries next to a printing press, representing great American inventions. American scientists and inventors Benjamin Franklin, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Robert Fulton watch. In the left part of the scene a teacher demonstrates the use of dividers.

Mercury of Commerce

Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, with his winged petasos and sandals and a caduceus, is depicted giving a bag of gold to American Revolutionary War financier Robert Morris. To the left, men move a box on a dolly; on the right, the anchor and sailors lead into "Marine."

Neptune of Marine

This scene shows Neptune, the Roman sea-god, with trident and crown of seaweed riding in a shell chariot drawn by sea horses. Venus, goddess of love born from the sea, is depicted helping to lay the transatlantic telegraph cable which ran from America to the Telegraph Field in Ireland.  In the background is an ironclad warship with smokestacks.

Ceres of Agriculture

Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, is shown with a wreath of wheat and a cornucopia, symbol of plenty, while sitting on a McCormick mechanical reaper. The personification of Young America in a liberty cap holds the reins of the horses, while the goddess Flora gathers flowers in the foreground.

Vulcan of Mechanics

Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and the forge, is depicted standing at an anvil with his foot on a cannon next to a pile of cannonballs. A steam engine is in the background. The man at the forge is thought to represent Charles Thomas, the supervisor of ironwork during the construction of the Capitol dome.

George Washington was a Freemason, and this fresco obviously conveys the Masonic belief that Ancient Wisdom is channeled to mankind by the gods.  You would think that the Religious Right would have some objection to this fresco; but then, probably quite a few Masons are Christians. Ha.