The Apotheosis of Washington

At the center of the American Rite is the U.S. Capitol. The Apotheosis of Washington in the eye of the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Encoded within this fresco is a major Secret of the American Rite. We’ll go to the Capitol and stand in the center of the Rotunda. When we look up we’ll see George Washington in a ring of stars and looking down at us. This fresco, painted by Constantin Brumidi in 1865 is called The Apotheosis of Washington. The word "apotheosis" means literally the raising of a person to the rank of a god. Just like the ascension images of Jesus and Buddha Washington rides upon a rainbow. If you stand high up in the Rotunda and look down towards the distant floor below, you have a vision reminiscent of Hollywood's portrayal of Star-gates. We'll take that amazing view and see the Star-gate for ourselves! As William Henry will explain throughout this amazing tour the alchemical transformation of man into a god and the concept of the Stargate are the keys to unraveling the mysteries of the American Rite.
Found Here: http://www.chetsnow.com/americanrite.html

The Apotheosis of Washington depicts George Washington becoming a god (apotheosis). Washington, the first U.S. president and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, is allegorically represented, surrounded by figures from classical mythology. Washington is draped in purple, a royal color, with a rainbow arch at his feet, flanked by the goddess Victory (draped in green, using a horn) to his left and the goddess Liberty to his right. Liberty wears a red cap, symbolizing emancipation, from a Roman tradition where sons leaving the home and/or slaves being emancipated would be given a red cap. She holds a fasces in her right hand and an open book in the other.

Forming a circle between Liberty and Victory are 13 maidens, each with a star above their heads, representing the original 13 colonies. Several of the maidens have their backs turned to Washington, said to represent the colonies that had seceded from the Union at the time of painting.

Surrounding Washington, the two goddesses, and the 13 maidens are six scenes lining the perimeter, each representing a national concept allegorically: from directly below Washington in the center and moving clockwise, "War," "Science," "Marine," "Commerce," "Mechanics," and "Agriculture":

The symbolism and lore surrounding the famous fresco have been mentioned in the latest Dan Brown novel The Lost Symbol.

Found Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apotheosis_of_Washington