aureole

An aureole is a radiance or halo surrounding a luminous body or object. The term is used across different fields, including art, religion, astronomy, and atmospheric optics. It derives from the late Latin aureolus, meaning golden, from aureus “golden.”

In art and iconography, aureoles indicate sanctity or divine radiance. They are often depicted as a circular glow or disc around a sacred figure’s head or body. While the term is commonly associated with halos in Christian art, aureole-like radiances appear in many religious and cultural traditions, with variations in shape, color, and intensity.

In astronomy and atmospheric optics, aureole describes a faint circular or ring-like glow surrounding a bright source, produced by scattering or diffraction in the atmosphere or in surrounding dust. The term is sometimes used in reference to the glow around the Sun, Moon, or planets seen during hazy conditions or twilight, distinct from but related to phenomena such as halos or coronas. The exact usage can vary by discipline and historical period.

In contemporary usage, aureole can be employed metaphorically to denote distinction, prominence, or a surrounding halo of fame or influence around a person, organization, or event.

See also halo, nimbus.