Effigies

An effigy is a likeness or representation of a person or deity, created as a sculpture, model, or other three-dimensional form. The term covers memorials, ritual pieces, or props used in protest or entertainment. Effigies can be life-size or smaller, and they typically aim to depict a specific individual rather than an abstract figure.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin effigies, meaning “image” or “likeness,” through Old French effigie, and entered English in the late Middle Ages. In English usage, effigy has broadened to encompass both enduring memorial sculptures and temporary or symbolic representations.

In funerary art, recumbent effigies on tombs are common in medieval and early modern Europe. These stone or alabaster likenesses depict nobles in armor or refined dress and convey memory, status, and identity. They may include inscriptions, heraldry, and symbolic details and are typically placed atop or within the tomb.

In political and ritual contexts, effigies are used as stand-ins for individuals in performances or protests, including displays or burnings to condemn or mock a figure. The practice is attested across cultures and periods and is often intended to convey a message rather than to memorialize.

Effigy mounds are a distinct use of the term in North America, where earthwork formations in the shape of animals or symbols were created by Indigenous peoples for ceremonial or territorial purposes. Across contexts, effigies illustrate how likenesses function as instruments of memory, authority, or critique.