Thirteen Stripe Shield

A shield with thirteen stripes denotes that Americans should rely on their own virtue. The number 13, is symbolic of the 13 original colonies.

Thirteen was also the number of participants at the Last Supper. Thirteen was once associated with the Epiphany by Christians, the child Jesus having received the Magi on his thirteenth day of life.

In Judaism, 13 signifies the age at which a boy matures and becomes a Bar Mitzvah (Age of 12 for Girls, or Bat Mitzvah).
The number of principles of Jewish faith according to Maimonides. According to the Torah, God has 13 Attributes of Mercy In Mesoamerican Divination, 13 is the number of important cycles of fortune/misfortune.

Another hypothesis about the origin of Friday the 13th as an unlucky day is attributed to this being the day that the Knights Templar were slaughtered in a collaboration between King Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V finishing with the burning at the stake of Jacques De Molay.

Jacques de Molay was last Grand Master of the Knights Templar.He is probably the best known Templar besides the order's founder and first grand master.

Photo location - GSA Building