Talons of God

The American eagle has always held two things at once: an olive branch in its right talon and a bundle of arrows in its left. The official explanation of 1782 says they stand for the power of peace and war, a power given to Congress.

The design counts in thirteens. There are thirteen arrows, thirteen stars above the head and thirteen stripes on the shield, one for each of the states that declared independence together, and on the official die the olive branch carries thirteen leaves and thirteen olives.

This window follows the Great Seal, and it is built like a church rose window. A circle of deep cobalt panes frames the bird, with red and cream rays fanning out behind it like a sunburst made of stripes. The wings are amber and copper, each feather its own piece of glass outlined in black lead. Five white stars arc over the head. The olive branch, with dark green leaves, is in the talon on the viewer's left, the arrows on the right, and the eagle is looking at the olive branch.