The Scottish Royal Culture Ishtar Spy Button
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Why would this be ancient religious pattern of the goddess Inanna with her Ishtar Rose be the chosen design for George Washington to use in his Spy Network? Let us first aside the fact that Robert Scot & Pierre Du Simitiere’s were high society artisans of their era, and only accepted commission work which would emulate their own artistry amongst their peers. Meaning, there would be no reason for these two talented artisans to team up to do a Scottish Royal Culture based religious design unless there was an important significance in it’s use during the American Revolution. We believe that Robert Scot & Pierre du Simitiere made this specific design for George Washington’s to use in his Revolutionary War Spy network.
Since, we know the Grand Architects Design was not yet introduced before or during the American Revolution, we cannot dismiss the fact that the Council of Enlightened Revolutionaries weren’t already planing and strategically laying-out the religious foundation cornerstones in their propaganda mediums (Rattlesnake Buttons too). In crafting the chess board itself, the Enlightened Revolutionaries template would include religious symbols from the Judaeo-Christian religion. This was to provide a substructure of their Grand Architects Design for the future multicultural melting pot (E. Pluribus Unum). As shown in the diagram below, Dale Hawley illustrates how the unification of judaeo-christian religions represents a true foundational Cornerstone for all races and religions. This should be viewed as an important aspect of the Enlighten Revolutionaries new societal construct of The Grand Architect’s Design. What George Washington decided to do is use a combination of Judaeo-Christian religion along with Scottish Royal Culture religious Ishtar Rose symbol of the Goddess Inanna to provide a multicultural melting pot for the Scottish nationality individuals who made up that part of his Spy network. By George Washington using a religious foundation in his spy network he was starting the roots of the Post-Revolution Grand Architect Design concept.
Inanna is the ancient Sumerian goddess of love, sensuality, fertility, and of course > war. She later became identified by the Akkadians and Assyrians as the goddess “Ishtar.” She is identified with the Ishtar Rose in prominence, and to the Sumerian people she was later recognized as the “Queen of Heaven” and then went on to become the most popular goddess in all of Mesopotamia. Why this is important to the Enlightened Visionaries? Inanna represents a bridge between cultures and other forms of practicing religions which inspired similar deities in many other worldly cultures. This bridge aspect was important in the new societal construct of the Enlightened Visionaries template for the Grand Architects Design for a post war New Republic.
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Since, George Washington was a Free & Accepted Mason of Fredericksburg, Virginia’s Masonic Lodge, his knowledge of the Scottish Royal Culture’s Masonic homage to the deity Inanna would have provided a clear understanding why the different messaging took on chameleon forms as to the many roles Inanna played for different cultures. The Inanna Ishtar 8 point ideogram on the George Washington Spy button depicts an overlapping symbol allusion which combines Scotland’s Regnal Jewels of Scotland (Shape) with their spiritual representation of the Scottish Pictish Kings. When Robert Scot & Pierre du Simitiere designed this religious Ishtar symbol for the button we believe he incorporated the Scottish Royal Culture’s vernacular use to the Scottish-Rite Masons with their heritage to the ancients to the Scottish Pictish kings. This links it back in time to the Crinan the Thane of Dunkeld lines of Scotland’s Kings. Possibly, offering a connection for George Washington to this bloodline history of Cospatrick of Dunbar, the son of Maldred, and grandson of Crinan the Thane of Dunkeld. This would be important later after the revolution when the Enlightened Visionaries would need foundation stones of birth-rite heraldry for their new societal construct in the Grand Architects Design.
Philadelphia’s Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons 1790’s
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The Inanna Ishtar spy button would have been worn most likely by a Jacobite Freemason. Since, the button was crafted by one of the era’s most celebrated artisans, the flamboyant style makes me speculate it was most likely worn by an individual who held a position in-which valuable British intelligence could be overheard or have access to correspondence. This would not be a city’s civil service position as demonstrated by use of the plain Judaeo-Christian Spy variant. This would most likely be in a position to offer information on the mobilization of troops or British or future plans of engagement. The nonchalantness of the button’s design offered the complexity needed for a spy button to function properly to the observer. The Inanna symbol allowed for the spy to have multiple and easy explanations as to a false nature when observed. This was an important aspect to the use of the Spy button. This allowed security to the wearer when observed to be easily dismissed or justified t being worn. When in actuality covering the True intended meaning and use.
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Robert Scot & Pierre Du Simitiere’s
We were able to identify the Master engraver as, Robert Scot of Canongate Lodge in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Scot family can trace their lineage back to the ancient Scottish Normans who were intermarried with the Royal Celts, which made up all of Crown Land of Ireland, Scotland, and England. Gary gianotti also provided some evidence that points to Robert Scot being a Sinclair by bloodline. The aristocratic Jacobite families who supported the patriot’s cause knew Robert Scot’s important family scottish lineage, and also through his various artistry transformational authoritative engravings which was restricted from others artisans. This was also in combination of his Transformational Scrolling Art work he produced for anti-counterfeit techniques for Virginia currency plates and official wax seal engravings. There was also a strong Scottish-Rite social tie to George Washington through the Masonic Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Robert Scot was the perfect choice as a sanctioned authoritative Master Artisan operating in the colonies that which had the skills to produce an Allusion based propaganda button of this magnitude with secrecy. Pierre Du Simitiere was a well known artisan who was properly educated to transfer his knowledge through his drawings of heraldry depictions. He was even the first choice by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to join the committee in making the Great Seal of the US because of his proper high society relationships and knowledge in ancient culture heraldry. Some of his prior work included the seal of Delaware and New Jersey which emulated his skills as a very accomplished talented artist. Pierre lived and worked in Philadelphia, and was one of the three principle engravers for important government and private commission work. When one asks himself why two people of this social stature and artisan magnitude would even make a religious based button, you must include the context of what was happening during these times. Because there is absolutely no reason either for profitability or socially acclaim for two of societies most prominent engravers in the US to jointly produce a religiously geared button, if not for > Washington’s Spy Cause!
Why Made in France
At this point in time American manufacturing could not have produced this high quality kind of button. Americans were doing cast pewter molds with impressed motifs or lathe turned thin coppers. France had the manufacturing in place, and was already established with making higher quality buttons as shown in Rhode Island Navy buttons. Another good point is that Freemason Jacobites recognized France as a safe haven for the House of Stuart’s Royal bloodline families and supporters. We belief that french manufactures were already making several variations of Rattlesnake buttons for Freemasons of Masonic Lodes by 1776. This offered Robert Scott, and Du Simitiere an established avenue for production of higher construction produced buttons. Noting who engraved the dies for the Inanna Spy button by the button’s engravers maker marks would offer a logical pathway to French manufacturing.
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Makers Mark Illustrations:
In the illustration below, we were able to identify several of Robert Scot & Pierre du Simitiere’s engraver’s maker marks on the front of the button. On the reverse, we can clearly see Pierre du Simitiere’s “S” engraver mark clearly on the loop of the shank. We were able to tightly date the die engraving between 1778 and 1783. We strongly believe that the steel die hub for the button was cut in Philadelphia in 1778, and then sent across the Atlantic ocean to be made in France. To properly date the button, we took into account Pierre Du Simitiere’s death in 1784, and also note that Since Edward Stuart passed away four years later in 1788.
Dale’s Correspondence
If that S on the front of the Spy button is there to be seen, the tiny S in the stippling and there is an S on the loop then it is what you say, or it is something else very important, here’s the proof. There are other political buttons that have an S or St or JV and so on them by an engraver, and they are all very important AMERICAN HISTORIC buttons. Figuring what this one is, one can only conclude by what we do know and we can compare. We know it pertains directly to the American experience as the Historical American buttons are marked the same way.
My personal draft notes from 2013:
I believe this pattern with religious symbolism was specifically chosen by George Washington or the well educated Freemason Artisans around him because it reflected their social and religious beliefs that came through their shared Masonic Scottish culture. George Washington and his Jacobite engraving Artisans would have all been well versed in the symbol’s meaning from their lodge’s ritual practices in ancient religions, and their education in Scottish Royal Culture. We know George Washington honored Scottish Royal Culture, and was loyal to it by his own personal practices and social relationships he had through the Fredericksburg, Virginia Masonic Lodge. Since these are deep seated religious beliefs by all Masonic brethren of both Rites; This button’s chosen spy symbol would have been the logical choice to appeal to both a supporter of the Patriot Cause . This button’s pattern could be viewed as a tribute to Scottish Royal Culture by using symbol that has an “Allusion of Overlapping Meanings” for both patriots and loyalists. The Eight Jewel pattern is the perfect allusion because it has both religious and social meaning. Each side of the cause can see several underlying meanings of the symbol and affording Spy’s the perfect deception and recognition they desire. For a Scottish-Rite Jacobite the allusion of the Eight Pointed Star provides a layered reference to the Scottish Royal culture, religious beliefs & heraldry. One could even push the layers to include their unwavering allegiance to the House of Stuart and their Royal family’s succession of Scottish King’s; from James VI of Scotland, and I of England and Ireland to the current Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The Eight Ray Inanna Star symbol offers multiple representations as to it’s various symbol’s meanings, but more importantly the eight ray star pattern was easily accepted as a Christian religious heraldry symbol that accommodated meaning for people who practiced religious beliefs through to St. George. This was the key detail needed, and most likely why the enlightened visionaries chose it for a spy button. Under current thinking in this era was that all men were men of faith, and held God in ultimate reverence. As with all 3 known variants of Spy buttons, this was the chosen specifically and made it the perfect for George Washington to use for foundational framework of the grand architects design.
If a British officer inquired about the button’s symbols and meaning; the Spy could simply explain that it is an ancient religious symbol that was used by Freemasons in the respect of the Goddess Ishtar. This would give the spy some latitude and aristocratic courtesy since most British officers were Freemasons themselves. If the spy was stopped by a soldier was not an officer, the spy could easily explain that it is a Union Flag of Scotland and England, and he wore it in support of the British cause. This proposition would make an underlying claim that he was a Tory in support of the British Empire. In Revolutionary War times it was very common for Tories to have specialized buttons to show support and loyalty for the British Empire. The religious heraldry layer is the eight pointed star. This represents the union of Scotland’s patron St. Andrew (X),” and England’s patron St. George (+). When you combine the two patron saint crosses they make an overlapping eight pointed star. This is known as, ” The Union Flag” of Scotland and England. To further add support, the button depicts alternating Saint crosses around the claimed Union Flag. This small detail helped support the spy’s explanation by showing solidarity between the two nations.
The Jacobite Undercurrent
The Masonic Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia had a strong Jacobite undercurrent of rebellion toward British social, political, and economic policies in colonial America. This Lodge had very prominent Jacobite family members who supported the patriot’s cause against the British. This lodge was even chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1758. The lodge’s members were who’s who of Revolutionary War Generals, and even included both Presidents George Washington and James Monroe. So, this was the Freemason aristocratic tie between the prominent Scottish families, Washington, and American Jacobite Generals that relied on spy information in planning efforts against the British. The Mason Lodge allowed Washington to be familiar with the history of Jacobites and their strong Scottish heraldry symbols that relate to the House of Stuart. So, if you were an American patriot spy and you wore this button, you would be instantly recognized as a friend to the American-Jacobite cause. Aristocratic Americans and Jacobite onlookers would recognize the Scottish Heraldic symbol and feel at ease to either impart or receive sensitive information pertaining to the war effort.
Why the Diamond Shape
The diamond pattern represents the rich history and historical events to the native citizens of Scotland. The diamond was chosen to reflect heraldry of the Scottish Kings, and the historical strife their nobles endured. First, diamonds are the chosen ornamental jewels of the Regnal Crown of Scotland. Meaning, it’s symbol was used to represent heraldry for the Kings of Scotland. For the Scottish nobles, we have several instances in which the diamond pattern was used as a symbol in their country’s internal struggles. Since there was a strong Jacobite undercurrent supporting the American Revolution, we believe the diamond pattern would have been the perfect choice by George Washington and his Jacobite supporters. Robert Scot and Pierre Du Simitiere would have been very familiar with Scotland’s history and would have made this a natural choice.
How the Button Relates to the Stars & Stripes
There is another strong argument for George Washington to use the Union Flag as a Spy Button’s symbol. The Grand Union flag of 1776 (AKA the Continental Colors, the Congress flag) is considered to be the first national flag of the United Colonies, and then The United States. By the end of 1775, the second continental congress acted as a de facto war government to authorize the creation of an Army and Navy. A new flag was needed to represent congress and a pledging nation. Since there was a strong undercurrent of Jacobite control over Congressional leaders and Military Generals who remained loyal to the House of Stuart, Washington could have taken this strongly held symbol as a carry over to the Spy button. There will be new evidence on my web site this week that gives concrete evidence that the Grand Union flag and the one before was actually the predecessor design to the 13 Stars and Stripes.
~ In Summary ~
These buttons are the combined work of Robert Scot of Scotland, and Pierre Du Simitiere of France. These were two very well known and established engravers in the American Colonies. There is irrefutable evidence that Robert Scot & Pierre Du Simitiere’s made the Spy button by illustrating their engraver maker marks. We know they both worked together in Philadelphia in 1778, they personally new George Washington, and had strong Jacobite and Freemason ties. What we do not know at this point (and might be lost to history) is the intended wearer. With the accumulation of evidence presented, the only logical conclusion is that the button was made for Washington’s Spy Ring. We believe because of the type of metal used and the unique motif the wearer would have most likely been in an elevated society position that would have afforded him secret information on an aristocratic level. Social parties and English clubs were often mixed with politics. We determined that the chosen motif of the Union Flag / Ishtar by Scot and Du Simitiere allowed the onlooker to have self-meaning to passively give the spy latitude.