A symbol of wisdom.
The Bavarian Illuminati was a secret society created in Germany by Adam Weishaupt. Although some individuals assume the group is still active today, it only existed from 1776 to 1785. The Illuminati was a group of people who believed in Enlightenment principles. Weishaupt aimed to instill those values in the German aristocracy. He believed that the new members would be well-versed in generosity, reason, and other secular ideals, allowing them to expand their political power. Members of the Illuminati would infiltrate other secret organizations, such as the Freemasons, to recruit members for their own organization. The Illuminati aspired to infiltrate the monarchical system and overthrow it. The Illuminati aspired to rule the world one day. They employed a variety of strange methods to conceal their identity, including spy-like protocols. An owl perched on a book surrounded by laurel leaves was one of the Illuminati’s insignia. Together, these emblems represent the triumph of science over religion. When Karl Theodor, Duke of Bavaria, abolished secret societies in 1785, the Illuminati was disbanded. Their legend goes on even after they split. They were accused of being behind the French Revolution and of infiltrating the Freemasons. In a letter, George Washington acknowledged the Illuminati, keeping the group and its secrets alive in America.