Novus Ordo Seclorum
The phrase
Novus Ordo Seclorum (
Latin:
New Order of the Ages), originally a
motto of
Freemasonry, appears on the
Great Seal of the United States, first publicly revealed in
1782 and printed on the back of the
US dollar bill since
1935. It is often inaccurately thought to mean "
New World Order," the Latin translation of which is
Novus Ordo Mundi.
The allusion is to the fourth eclogue of Vergil, which contains a passage that reads:
- Ultima Cumaei venit iam carminis aetas;
- magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo.
- iam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna,
- iam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto.
- ("The last prophecy has come to the Cumaean Sibyl; an brand new great order of the ages is born; for now the Virgin and the age of Saturn have returned; now a new Child has been sent from the heavens.")
Medieval
Christians read in Vergil's poem a
prophecy of the coming of Christianity.