Eagles

Good example of how to create statues with masonic hidden in plain sight symbolism is found from the center of my home-country's capital Helsinki. In Kaisaniemi, there is the sculpture Eagles (Kotkia, 1913), by Bertel Nilsson.

Helsinki Art Museum introduction:

The sculpture depicts two eagles and is surrounded by a basin. One of the eagles is about to devour its prey while the other keeps a keen eye on the surroundings. The work is realistic, although the eagles' arrogant and smug expressiveness add humour to it. Nilsson has created an image of a cruel bird of prey, which looses its dangerousness and looks rather foolish despite its intimidating greatness. Originally, the work was placed in the Ateneum park, from where it was moved to its present location in 1974. The piece was completed in 1913 and it is cast in bronze.

For someone who doesn't know anything about masonic symbolism, this looks like a nice little sculpture of two big birds - nothing more. Those who have studied masonic symbolism, can spot two familiar masonic motifs.

If you have ever studied masonic symbolism, you probably know that one of the most well known symbols of Freemasonry is the double-headed eagle.

Masonic symbolism: double-headed eagle

It's a very recognizable symbol, which you can't use as such in plain sight, if you wish to keep your message hidden from the uninitiated. So how do you make that reference without it being too obvious? You put two eagles side by side and put them on another masonic symbol - broken column.

Masonic symbolism: broken column

Masonic art: Weeping Virgin and the broken column

One must understand that when it comes to esoteric and exoteric symbolism, that division exists also inside the masonic brotherhood. The newcomers and low level masons, so called blue degrees (first three degrees), learn only the exoteric meanings of the masonic symbols. The esoteric level is kept secret and meant only for the ones high up in the hierarchy.

If you don't believe me, just read this quote from Morals and Dogma by the 33. degree mason Albert Pike.

"The Blue Degrees are, but the outer court or portico of the temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them, but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them... The true explanation is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of Masonry." - Albert Pike (Morals And Dogma)

The exoteric meaning of the broken column is about falling of a supporter of Freemasonry, meaning a death of a prominent member of the masonic society. That is the reason why so many broken columns can be seen on cemeteries.

"In Freemasonry, the broken column is, as Master Freemasons well know, the emblem of the fall of one of the chief supporters of the Craft. The use of the column or pillars as a monument erected over a tomb was a very ancient custom, and was a very significant symbol of the character and spirit of the person interred." - Masonic Dictionary

As said, that's only the exoteric level meant for the lower level masons. The esoteric meaning is about something else. It's a reference to the origins of masonry - ancient Egypt and the Cult of Aton. Broken column represents the lost empire of pharaoh Akhenaton. It refers to the destroyed city that was the symbol of Akhenaton's atonistic empire.

During his reign Akhenaton built a city for his sun god Aton (or Aten), called Akhetaten ('Horizon of the Aten'), or better known as Amarna. After the expulsion of pharaoh Akhenaton and the atonists, everything that reminded about the Cult of Aton was considered unholy and evil. People in Egypt hated Akhenaton and his deranged version of sun worship so much that they destroyed Amarna and leveled it on the ground.

Today, there are only ruins left of this once great city dedicated to Aton - and broken columns.

Broken column in Amarna

Globalization

Another example of hidden in plain sight tarot symbolism in Finland. This is called Globalization (Globalisaatio, 2006), by Ossi Somma.

(click to enlarge)

Can you see it?

Cult of Aton - part 4: The Olive Branch

Previous part of this series: The lion.

Have you ever wondered why the eagle on the Great Seal of the United States holds an olive branch? Why is it there? What does it represent?

The exoteric explanation for the olive branch is of course the well known idea that the olive branch is a symbol of peace. Yeah, that's what the Wikipedia article says, so it must be true, right?

The same Wikipedia article introduces the history of the symbol on different ages and cultures, but what it leaves out of the article is the real origin of the olive branch - the esoteric level of the symbol.

The mainstream sources never mention the fact, that the olive branch is a symbol of the Cult of Aton. They never mention about the Egyptian origins of this symbol, or the fact that the real reason why the olive branch is so widely used by "the Elite", is its connection to atonism.

Art from Amarna: Akhenaton offering an olive branch to Aton

There is archaeological evidence that shows how the olive branch was an important symbol for the atonists during the time of pharaoh Akhenaton. (See the picture above.) We can still see how the olive branch is a common symbol used by the so called "Israelites", meaning the atonists who were kicked out of Egypt.

Emblem of Israel with the olive branches

Emblem of Jerusalem with the olive branches

One must understand that the olive branch is not just a "Jewish" symbol. Jewish religion is just one branch of the Cult of Aton. There are many others, and they always use the same atonistic symbols over and over again. For example, you can see olive branches on masonic symbolism or Christian symbolism, You can see it on logos of many powerful institutions. You can see on coins, stamps and medals - the list goes on and on.

Masonic symbolism: an olive branch

Masonic symbolism: the olive branches

Masonic symbolism: the olive branches

Olive branches on Knights of Malta medal

Olive branches on Knights of Columbus medal

UN logo with the olive branches

Olive branch in Vatican

Olive branch on a coin

Queen Elizabeth with an olive branch

King Edward with olive branches

Olive branch on IMF logo

Art's Genius

Another example of Walter Runeberg's (the designer of the masonic J.L. Runeberg statue) hidden in plain sight symbolism: Art's Genius (Taiteen haltija).

Art's Genius

A closer look at the details reveals the hidden reference to masonry - a square, a compass and a hammer.

Masonic symbolism: Square and compass with a hammer

What makes these masonic symbols in Runeberg's works interesting, is the fact that he lived during a time when Freemasonry was forbidden in Finland.

According the official sources, Freemasonry arrived in Finland in 1758 from Sweden. During that time Finland was part of the Swedish kingdom. After the Finnish war between Sweden and Russia, Sweden lost Finland to Russia in 1809.

Under the rule of the Russian emperor Alexander I, Freemasonry was officially forbidden in the Russian empire in 1822. Finland got its independence in 1917 and in 1922 Freemasonry officially "returned" back to the country.

How do you ban secret societies? Well, you don't. It's impossible. The brotherhoods will just go underground and continue in secrecy. This is exactly what happened in 19th century Finland.

Walter Runeberg lived during the years 1838–1920. During his lifetime, huge amount of the famous and powerful people in Finland were secretly Freemasons. There is plenty of photographic evidence to support this claim. The amount of pictures of these people with their masonic poses of "the hidden hand" and "the lion's paw" reveals the fact that there was a large and very active masonic brotherhood in the higher echelons of Finnish society during the time when Freemasonry was officially forbidden. Large amount of famous artists, statesmen, businessmen, academics etc. were Freemasons.

Still, none of the official history books admit this. Why? Because it would reveal the fact, that there has been a powerful secret society of influential people working behind the scenes in Finland for a very long time - and still is. Even today the most famous people in Finland are very shy to admit their ties to these brotherhoods.

Photos of famous 19th century Finns with masonic hand signs:

Walter Runeberg with "the lion's paw"

Johan Ludvig Runeberg with "the hidden hand"

Zacharias Topelius

Leo Mechelin

Elias Lönnrot

Eero Järnefelt

Fredrik Cygnaeus

Albert Edelfelt

August Ahlqvist

Otto Donner

J. V. Snellman

J.L. Runeberg statue

One of the most visible statues in Helsinki is the J.L. Runeberg statue at the center of Esplanadi park. Johan Ludvig Runeberg is the national poet of Finland, and was perhaps the most famous person in Finland during the 19th century. His statue was designed by his son, Walter Runeberg. Both were Freemasons.

Helsinki Art Museum introduction:

Already during his lifetime, the Finnish national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-77) was subject to a personal cult and glorification by literary critics. This left the younger generations of poets in his shadow, raising voices of criticism. Runeberg's influence and his adoration was not only national, but reached to the other Nordic countries such as Russia, Germany, France and the UK, too.

A year after Runeberg's death a committee appointed by the Estates, with Zacharias Topelius as secretary, commissioned a memorial from the poet's son Walter Runeberg, who was working in Paris at the time. The sculptor's draft was approved in 1882 and cast twice in bronze in Paris. The pedestal's Maiden of Finland, wrapped in a bearskin, was completed in 1883. In her left hand, she is holding a table with the words of the Finnish national anthem in Swedish. In her right hand she has a laurel wreath, and a pile of books lies by her feet.

The granite pedestal also contains an inscription and the year 1885. The poet Runeberg is depicted on the monument the age of 55, typically dressed in a priest's coat (like the one he wore while teaching at the Porvoo Gymnasium). His right arm is resting on his chest with the thumb stuck underneath the coat, as if he were about to begin a speech. The memorial contains no hint of the identity of the person depicted by it - it was considered self-evident. Runeberg's statue was unveiled on May 6, 1885, eight years after the poet's death.                   

J.L. Runeberg statue

J.L. Runeberg with the masonic "hidden hand" posture

J.L. Runeberg and Zacharias Topelius posing the masonic "hidden hand"

So, a committee headed by Zacharias Topelius, a Freemason, commissioned a memorial for J.L. Runeberg, a Freemason, from Runeberg's son, who was also a Freemason. Would it surprise you, if this memorial has some hidden in plain sight masonic symbolism?

Just look at the statue from above.

Statue surrounded with the shape of the masonic logo

The Art Museum's explanation for his posture is: "His right arm is resting on his chest with the thumb stuck underneath the coat, as if he were about to begin a speech."

Right. 'Cos that's how people always pose when they are about to give a speech?

That silly cover-up story tries to shift the focus away from the fact, that Runeberg is depicted with the masonic hand sign, called Lion's paw. This hand sign refers to the Lion of Judah - one of the most common symbols of the Cult of Aton.

Phoenixmasonry.org's definition for Lion's paw:

A mode of recognition so called because of the rude resemblance made by the hand and fingers to a lion's paw. It refers to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This expression is found in Revelations 5:5. 

There are many ways to subtly pose with the Lion's paw. Examples:

J.L. Runeberg

Walter Runeberg

Francis Dashwood

Albert Pike

Pat Robertson

Will Smith

Sting

Juha Sipilä (Prime minister of Finland)