Editing Great Seal of the United States (section)

===Stated symbolism===
The recurring number 13 refers to the [[Thirteen Colonies|13 original states]]. The arrows and [[olive branch]] together symbolize that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war." (see [[Olive Branch Petition]]). E Pluribus Unum contains 13 letters.

The [[eagle]] has its head turned towards the olive branch, on its right side, to symbolize a preference for peace.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.snopes.com/history/american/turnhead.asp |title = A Turn of the Head |date = November 5, 2001 |publisher = snopes.com }}</ref>

The primary official explanation of the symbolism of the great seal was given by [[Charles Thomson]] upon presenting the final design for adoption by Congress. He wrote:

{{quote|The Escutcheon is composed of the chief & pale, the two most honorable ordinaries. The Pieces, paly, represent the several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief, which unites the whole & represents Congress. The Motto alludes to this union. The pales in the arms are kept closely united by the chief and the Chief depends upon that union & the strength resulting from it for its support, to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America & the preservation of their union through Congress.

The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice. The Olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace & war which is exclusively vested in Congress. The Constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. The Escutcheon is born on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own Virtue.<ref name="greatseal.com">As quoted by {{cite web |url = http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/explanation.html |title = Explanation of the Great Seal's Symbolism |publisher = greatseal.com |first = John D. |last = MacArthur }}</ref>}}

Thomson took the symbolism for the colors from ''Elements of Heraldry'', by Antoine Pyron du Martre, which [[William Barton (heraldist)|William Barton]] had lent him.<ref name="archive.org">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/TheEagleAndTheShield/The%20Eagle%20and%20the%20Shield#page/n123/mode/2up|title=The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States|last1=Patterson|first1=Richard Sharpe|last2=Dougall|first2=Richardson|publisher= Washington : Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, Dept. of State : for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|date=1978|orig-year=1976 i.e. 1978|series=Department and Foreign Service series; 161 Department of State publication; 8900|lccn=78602518|oclc=4268298|pages=80–81}}</ref> That book said that argent (white) "signifies Purity, Innocence, Beauty, and Genteelness", gules (red) "denotes martial Prowess, Boldness, and Hardiness", and azure (blue) "signifies Justice, Perseverance, and Vigilance".<ref name="The Elements of Heraldry">Pyron du Martre, Antoine (Pen name: Mark Anthony Porny) (1771). [https://archive.org/stream/elementsofherald00pyro#page/n261/mode/2up ''The Elements of Heraldry'']. T. Carnan and F. Newbery, Jr. ''Glossary entry: Argent''</ref><ref name="Martre, Antoine 1771">Pyron du Martre, Antoine (Pen name: Mark Anthony Porny) (1771). [https://archive.org/stream/elementsofherald00pyro#page/n279/mode/2up ''The Elements of Heraldry'']. T. Carnan and F. Newbery, Jr. ''Glossary entry: Gules''</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Pyron du Martre, Antoine (Pen name: Mark Anthony Porny) (1771). [https://archive.org/stream/elementsofherald00pyro#page/n261/mode/2up ''The Elements of Heraldry'']. T. Carnan and F. Newbery, Jr. ''Glossary entry: Azure''</ref>

A brief and official explanation of the symbolism was prepared in the form of a historical sketch, or pamphlet, of the seal of the United States, entitled, ''The Seal of the United States: How it was Developed and Adopted''. It was written by [[Gaillard Hunt]] in 1892 under the direction of then Secretary of State [[James G. Blaine]].<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last = Hunt |first = Gaillard |title = The History of the Seal of the United States |year = 1909 |location = Washington, D.C.: Department of State, 1909 1st Ed. Page 5. |url = https://archive.org/details/historyofsealofu00unit }}</ref><ref name="The Washington Herald">{{cite news |work = The Washington Herald |date = March 2, 1913 |title = Uncle Sam Has Seal Maker in the Library of Congress |via = ''Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers'', Library of Congress |url = http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1913-03-02/ed-1/seq-29 |department = Magazine |page = 3 |access-date = July 9, 2013 |archive-date = November 15, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131115201501/http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1913-03-02/ed-1/seq-29/ |url-status = live }}</ref> When the copyright on the pamphlet expired, Hunt expounded upon the information in more detail.<ref name=":4" /> This was published in 1909 in a book titled'' The History of the Seal of the United States.''<ref name=":4" /> This work was largely based on a two-volume work written in 1897 by [[C. A. L. Totten|Charles A. L. Totten]] titled ''Our Inheritance in the Great Seal of Manasseh, the United States of America: Its History and Heraldry; and Its Signification unto the 'Great People' thus Sealed.''<ref name=":4" /> Hunt's account greatly details how the seal was chosen, containing sketches of other suggestions for a great seal which were made, such as Franklin's suggested motto "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to [[God]]", information on the illegal seal, iterations and changes that have been made to the seal, and it also includes detailed descriptions of the symbology of the great seal (such as that provided by Charles Thomson).<ref name=":4" />