What are icons in the Byzantine Empire?
Icons, that is images of holy persons, were an important part of the Byzantine Christian Church from the 3rd century CE onwards. Venerated in churches, public places, and private homes, they were often believed to have protective properties.
What is the significance of Byzantine icons?
The Byzantines accorded icons extraordinary, even miraculous powers to answer prayers, heal the sick, and provide protection. They were venerated at home and in church, and were carried in public processions along streets and into battle.
What are Greek icons?
Icons are representations of the Heavenly. They are expressions of Orthodox Faith, teaching, and worship. The Greek word for “Icon” is, “Αγιογραφία,” which can be separated into two words: Άγιο, meaning Holy or not of this world (Heavenly)
What are the function of Byzantine?
Byzantine Christian art had the triple purpose of beautifying a building, instructing the illiterate on matters vital for the welfare of their soul, and encouraging the faithful that they were on the correct path to salvation. For this reason, the interiors of Byzantine churches were covered with paintings and mosaics.
What role does the icon play in Byzantine worship and belief?
In the Byzantine church, the icon was used for contemplation of prayer to be used as a method of direct communication with the religious figures. And while there are many left to admire from the Byzantine Empire period, there have been many acts of unrest against much more pieces than we know about.
What is an icon in art history?
An icon was originally a picture of Christ on a panel used as an object of devotion in the orthodox Greek Church from at least the seventh century on. An iconography is a particular range or system of types of image used by an artist or artists to convey particular meanings.
Are Byzantine icons art?
Religious art was not, however, limited to the monumental decoration of church interiors. One of the most important genres of Byzantine art was the icon, an image of Christ, the Virgin, or a saint, used as an object of veneration in Orthodox churches and private homes alike.
How did the Byzantines create mosaic icons?
From around the twelfth century to the fourteenth century, the Byzantines also began creating portable mosaic icons by setting small tesserae into wax or resin on wood panels, which were often enclosed in silver-gilt frames. These objects are sometimes referred to as “miniature mosaics” or “micro-mosaics.”
Is there any evidence of iconoclastic activity in the Byzantine Empire?
There is also evidence that emperor Theophilos—who reigned during the second phase of Iconoclasm—expanded and lavishly decorated the imperial palace and other spaces. Iconoclastic activity can be directly observed in the mosaics of the church of the Dormition (or Koimesis) at Nicaea (İznik, Turkey).
What are some examples of the Iconoclastic Controversy?
Let us consider the examples of three Byzantine churches, whose mosaics offer visual evidence of the Iconoclastic Controversy and subsequent Triumph of Orthodoxy: Hagia Eirene in Constantinople (Istanbul), the Dormition in Nicaea (İznik, Turkey), and Hagia Sophia (Istanbul).
What are “holy icons?
In the Eastern Roman “ Byzantine ” Empire and other lands that shared Byzantium’s Orthodox Christian faith, “holy icons” were images of sacred figures and events. Icon of Christ, late 14th century, Thessaloniki, egg tempera on wood, 157 x 105 x 5 cm ( Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki)