iconoclasses

An iconoclasm is the destruction or prohibition of religious images in churches or mosques. The term comes from the Greek words eikon (image) and klas (breaker). Iconoclasm has occurred at various times in history, often in periods of religious or political upheaval.

The most famous instances of iconoclasm took place in the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Iconoclasm was a series of religious disputes and related occurrences in the 8th and 9th centuries CE. The Byzantine Emperors Leo III and Constantine V initiated iconoclasm, prohibiting the veneration of religious images and ordering their destruction. This led to widespread conflict between iconoclasts and iconodules, who defended the use of religious images. The practice was eventually condemned by the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 CE, which reaffirmed the legitimacy of religious imagery.

Iconoclasm has also occurred in other contexts. During the Protestant Reformation, some reformers destroyed religious art in Catholic churches. In more recent times, iconoclastic acts have been carried out by various groups, often as a form of protest against established institutions or ideologies. The motivation behind iconoclasm can vary, but it often stems from a belief that religious images are idolatrous or that they represent a corrupt or false ideology. The destruction of images can be seen as a symbolic act of purification or rebellion.