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0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Religious_image" title="Special:EditPage/Religious image">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Religious+image%22">"Religious image"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Religious+image%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Religious+image%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Religious+image%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Religious+image%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Religious+image%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">February 2010</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>A <b>religious image</b> is a work of <a href="/wiki/Visual_art" class="mw-redirect" title="Visual art">visual art</a> that is representational and has a religious purpose, subject or connection. All major <a href="/wiki/History" title="History">historical</a> religions have made some use of religious images, although their use is strictly controlled and often controversial in many religions, especially <a href="/wiki/Abrahamic_religions" title="Abrahamic religions">Abrahamic</a> ones.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2022)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> General terms associated with religious images include <a href="/wiki/Cult_image" title="Cult image">cult image</a>, a term for images, especially in <a href="/wiki/Sculpture" title="Sculpture">sculpture</a> which are or have been claimed to be the object of <a href="/wiki/Religious_worship" class="mw-redirect" title="Religious worship">religious worship</a> in their own right,<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> and <a href="/wiki/Icon" title="Icon">icon</a> strictly a term for <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox" class="mw-redirect" title="Eastern Orthodox">Eastern Orthodox</a> religious images,<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> but often used more widely, in and outside the area of religion. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Christianity">Christianity</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Christianity"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Christian_art" title="Christian art">Christian art</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Early_Christian_art" class="mw-redirect" title="Early Christian art">Early Christian art</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Isaias_predicts_the_birth_of_the_Messiah_from_the_Virgin,_the_star_above,_from_the_from_the_book_Die_Malereien_der_Katakomben_Roms,_plate_22,_cropped_tight_sharpened.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Isaias_predicts_the_birth_of_the_Messiah_from_the_Virgin%2C_the_star_above%2C_from_the_from_the_book_Die_Malereien_der_Katakomben_Roms%2C_plate_22%2C_cropped_tight_sharpened.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="183" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Isaias_predicts_the_birth_of_the_Messiah_from_the_Virgin%2C_the_star_above%2C_from_the_from_the_book_Die_Malereien_der_Katakomben_Roms%2C_plate_22%2C_cropped_tight_sharpened.jpg/330px-thumbnail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Isaias_predicts_the_birth_of_the_Messiah_from_the_Virgin%2C_the_star_above%2C_from_the_from_the_book_Die_Malereien_der_Katakomben_Roms%2C_plate_22%2C_cropped_tight_sharpened.jpg/440px-thumbnail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="764" data-file-height="636" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Isaiah" title="Isaiah">Isaiah</a> (left) predicts the birth of the <a href="/wiki/Messiah" title="Messiah">Messiah</a> from the Virgin.<sup id="cite_ref-Wilpert_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wilpert-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Mary,_mother_of_Jesus" title="Mary, mother of Jesus">Mary</a> is shown nursing the <a href="/wiki/Christ_Child" title="Christ Child">Infant Jesus</a>. Circa 100-150 A.D., <a href="/wiki/Catacomb_of_Priscilla" title="Catacomb of Priscilla">Catacomb of Priscilla</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rome" title="Rome">Rome</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Wilpert_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wilpert-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is possibly the earliest known image of Mary and the Infant Jesus independent of the <a href="/wiki/Biblical_Magi" title="Biblical Magi">Magi</a> episode. Alternatively, the figure at the left may be <a href="/wiki/Balaam" title="Balaam">Balaam</a> pointing to a star. The star is from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0424.htm#17">Numbers 24:17</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Images flourished within the Christian world, but by the 6th century, <a href="/wiki/Iconoclasm_(Byzantine)" class="mw-redirect" title="Iconoclasm (Byzantine)">certain factions</a> arose within the Eastern Church to challenge the use of icons, and in 726-30 they won Imperial support.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> The <a href="/wiki/Byzantine_iconoclasm" class="mw-redirect" title="Byzantine iconoclasm">Iconoclasts</a> actively destroyed icons in most public places, replacing them with the only religious depiction allowed, <a href="/wiki/Christian_cross" title="Christian cross">the cross</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Iconodules" class="mw-redirect" title="Iconodules">Iconodules</a> (those who favored the veneration of images), on the other hand, argued that icons had always been used by Christians and should continue to be allowed. They further argued that not only should the use of icons be permitted, it was necessary to the Christian faith as a testimony of the <a href="/wiki/Dogma" title="Dogma">dogma</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Incarnation_(Christianity)" title="Incarnation (Christianity)">Incarnation of Christ</a>. <a href="/wiki/Saint_John_Damascene" class="mw-redirect" title="Saint John Damascene">Saint John Damascene</a> argued: </p> <blockquote><p>"Of old God the incorporeal and uncircumscribed was not depicted at all. But now that God has appeared in the flesh and lived among men, I make an image of the God who can be seen. I do not worship matter, but I worship the Creator of matter, who for my sake became material and deigned to dwell in matter, who through matter effected my salvation."<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>Finally, after much debate at the <a href="/wiki/Second_Council_of_Nicaea" title="Second Council of Nicaea">Second Council of Nicaea</a>, held in 787, the Iconodules, supported by the Empress, upheld the use of icons as an integral part of Christian <a href="/wiki/Sacred_tradition" title="Sacred tradition">tradition</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>, and the Western Church, which had been almost totally unaffected by the dispute, confirmed this.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> According to the definition of the council, icons of Jesus are not intended to depict his divinity, but only the <a href="/wiki/Logos" title="Logos">Incarnate Word</a>. Saints are depicted because they reflect the grace of God, as depicted by their <a href="/wiki/Halo_(religious_iconography)" title="Halo (religious iconography)">halos</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Eastern_Christianity">Eastern Christianity</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Eastern Christianity"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Icon" title="Icon">Icon</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg/220px-Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="410" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg/330px-Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg/440px-Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2023" data-file-height="3774" /></a><figcaption>Icon of <a href="/wiki/Christ_Pantokrator" class="mw-redirect" title="Christ Pantokrator">Christ Pantokrator</a> (<a href="/wiki/Saint_Catherine%27s_Monastery" title="Saint Catherine's Monastery">Saint Catherine's Monastery</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mount_Sinai" title="Mount Sinai">Mount Sinai</a>).</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church" title="Eastern Orthodox Church">Eastern Orthodox Church</a> fully ascribes to the teachings of the <a href="/wiki/Seventh_Ecumenical_Council" class="mw-redirect" title="Seventh Ecumenical Council">Seventh Ecumenical Council</a> and celebrates the restoration of the use of icons after the period of Iconoclasm on the First Sunday of <a href="/wiki/Great_Lent" title="Great Lent">Great Lent</a>. So important are the icons in Orthodox theology that the ceremony celebrating their restoration is known as the <a href="/wiki/Triumph_of_Orthodoxy" class="mw-redirect" title="Triumph of Orthodoxy">Triumph of Orthodoxy</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>In the traditions of <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Christianity" title="Eastern Christianity">Eastern Christianity</a>, only flat images or <i><a href="/wiki/Bas_relief" class="mw-redirect" title="Bas relief">bas relief</a></i> images are used (no more than 3/4 <a href="/wiki/Relief" title="Relief">relief</a>). Because the Eastern Church teaches that icons should represent the spiritual reality rather than the physical reality, the traditional style of Orthodox iconography was developed in which figures were stylized in a manner that emphasized their holiness rather than their humanity.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG/250px-Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="330" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG/330px-Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG/500px-Akhtala_monastery_119.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="3072" /></a><figcaption>The murals in Armenian-Chalcedonian style depicting Christian saints, <a href="/wiki/Akhtala_Monastery" title="Akhtala Monastery">Akhtala Monastery</a>, <a href="/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Traditional icons differ from <a href="/wiki/Western_art" class="mw-redirect" title="Western art">Western art</a> in that they are not romantic or emotional, but call the viewer to "sobriety" (<i><a href="/wiki/Nipsis" class="mw-redirect" title="Nipsis">nipsis</a></i>). The manner of depicting the face, and especially the eyes, is intended to produce in the viewer a sense of calm, devotion, and a desire for <a href="/wiki/Asceticism" title="Asceticism">asceticism</a>. Icons also differ from Western art in that they use <a href="/wiki/Inverse_perspective" class="mw-redirect" title="Inverse perspective">inverse perspective</a> (giving the impression that the icon itself is the source of light), and for this reason make very little use of shadow or highlight. The background of icons is usually covered with <a href="/wiki/Gold_leaf" title="Gold leaf">gold leaf</a> to remind the viewer that the subject pictured is not earthly but otherworldly (gold being the closest earthly medium in which to signify heavenly glory). </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Eglise_de_Bethanie,_peintures_murales.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Eglise_de_Bethanie%2C_peintures_murales.jpg/220px-Eglise_de_Bethanie%2C_peintures_murales.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="292" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Eglise_de_Bethanie%2C_peintures_murales.jpg/330px-Eglise_de_Bethanie%2C_peintures_murales.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Eglise_de_Bethanie%2C_peintures_murales.jpg/440px-Eglise_de_Bethanie%2C_peintures_murales.jpg 2x" data-file-width="572" data-file-height="760" /></a><figcaption>Drawings made from <a href="/wiki/Icon" title="Icon">icon</a> murals in Betania <a href="/wiki/Monastery" title="Monastery">Monastery</a>, <a href="/wiki/Georgia_(country)" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a>, exemplifying classical Orthodox iconography.</figcaption></figure> <p>Jesus and the <a href="/wiki/Twelve_Apostles" class="mw-redirect" title="Twelve Apostles">Apostles</a> are depicted wearing the robes of <a href="/wiki/Philosopher" class="mw-redirect" title="Philosopher">philosophers</a>. The precise manner of depicting the face of Jesus and many of the saints is also fixed by tradition. Even the colors used in depicting the clothing of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and other saints are fixed by <a href="/wiki/Tradition" title="Tradition">tradition</a>, with symbolic meaning attached to each color.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Icons of Jesus depict him with a halo that displays three bars of a cross and the Greek letters which signify <a href="/wiki/YHWH" class="mw-redirect" title="YHWH">I AM</a> (the Divine Name which God revealed to <a href="/wiki/Moses" title="Moses">Moses</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Burning_Bush" class="mw-redirect" title="Burning Bush">Burning Bush</a>). The halos of saints, even the <a href="/wiki/Theotokos" title="Theotokos">Theotokos</a> (Mother of God) are usually simple circles, filled with gold leaf. Over the centuries, painter's manuals have developed to help preserve the traditions and techniques of Orthodox iconography, one of the best-known is the manual from the <a href="/wiki/Stroganov_school" title="Stroganov school">Stroganov school</a> of iconography in Russia.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Despite these strict guidelines, the Orthodox iconographic style is not stilted, and the individual artist is always permitted to bring his own style and spiritual insight into his work, so long as he remains faithful to <a href="/wiki/Sacred_Tradition" class="mw-redirect" title="Sacred Tradition">Sacred Tradition</a>, and many icons display remarkable movement and depth. </p><p>The thoughtful use of symbolism allows the icon to present complex teaching in a simple way, making it possible to educate even the illiterate in theology. The interiors of Orthodox Churches are often completely covered in icons of Christ, Mary and the saints. Most are portrait figures in various conventional poses, but many narrative scenes are also depicted. It is not unusual in narrative icons for the same individual to be depicted more than one time. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh,_Azerbaijan_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh%2C_Azerbaijan_1.jpg/220px-Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh%2C_Azerbaijan_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh%2C_Azerbaijan_1.jpg/330px-Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh%2C_Azerbaijan_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh%2C_Azerbaijan_1.jpg/440px-Frescos_in_St._Georges_church_in_Qakh%2C_Azerbaijan_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="533" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Sacred_Tradition" class="mw-redirect" title="Sacred Tradition">Sacred Tradition</a> determines not only the style of representation, but also the traditional placement of icons in an Orthodox church (Georgian Orthodox Church of St. George in <a href="/wiki/Qax" class="mw-redirect" title="Qax">Qax</a>, <a href="/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Orthodox Christians do not pray "to" icons; rather, they pray "before" them. An icon is a medium of communication, rather than a medium of art. Gazing at, an icon is intended to help draw the worshipper into the heavenly kingdom. As with all of Orthodox theology, the purpose is <i><a href="/wiki/Divinization_(Christian)" title="Divinization (Christian)">theosis</a></i> (mystical union with God).<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>Icons are <a href="/wiki/Veneration" title="Veneration">venerated</a> by the faithful by <a href="/wiki/Poklon" class="mw-redirect" title="Poklon">bowing</a> and kissing them. Traditionally, the faithful would not kiss the face of the one depicted on the icon, but rather the right hand or foot depicted on the icon. The composition of an icon is planned with this veneration in mind, and the iconographer will usually portray his subject so that the right hand is raised in blessing, or if it is the saint's full figure is depicted, the right foot is visible. </p><p>Icons are also honored with <a href="/wiki/Thurible" title="Thurible">incense</a> and by burning <a href="/wiki/Lampada" class="mw-redirect" title="Lampada">lampadas</a> (oil lamps) in front of them. Icons are carried in <a href="/wiki/Procession" title="Procession">processions</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Bishop" title="Bishop">bishop</a> or <a href="/wiki/Priest" title="Priest">priest</a> may <a href="/wiki/Blessing" title="Blessing">bless</a> the people by holding an icon upright and making the <a href="/wiki/Sign_of_the_cross" title="Sign of the cross">sign of the cross</a> with it over them. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Western_Christianity">Western Christianity</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Western Christianity"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Interior,_All_Saints_Church,_Bolton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_428400.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Interior%2C_All_Saints_Church%2C_Bolton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_428400.jpg/220px-Interior%2C_All_Saints_Church%2C_Bolton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_428400.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="331" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Interior%2C_All_Saints_Church%2C_Bolton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_428400.jpg/330px-Interior%2C_All_Saints_Church%2C_Bolton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_428400.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Interior%2C_All_Saints_Church%2C_Bolton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_428400.jpg 2x" data-file-width="426" data-file-height="640" /></a><figcaption>Painting of the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, in its current form, in the parish church of <a href="/wiki/Bolton,_Cumbria" title="Bolton, Cumbria">Bolton</a> in <a href="/wiki/Cumbria" title="Cumbria">Cumbria</a>, <a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Until the 13th century, icons followed a broadly similar pattern in West and East, although very few such early examples survive from either tradition. Western icons, which are not usually so termed, were largely patterned on Byzantine works, and equally conventional in composition and depiction.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> From this point on the Western tradition came slowly to allow the artist far more flexibility, and a more realistic approach to the figures. </p><p>In the 15th century the use of icons in the West was enormously increased by the introduction of <a href="/wiki/Old_master_print" title="Old master print">prints</a> on <a href="/wiki/Paper" title="Paper">paper</a>, mostly <a href="/wiki/Woodcut" title="Woodcut">woodcuts</a> which were produced in vast numbers. With the <a href="/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Reformation">Reformation</a>, after an initial uncertainty among early <a href="/wiki/Lutherans" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutherans">Lutherans</a>, <a href="/wiki/Protestants" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestants">Protestants</a> came down firmly against icon-like portraits, especially larger ones, even of Christ. Many Protestants found these <a href="/wiki/Idolatry" title="Idolatry">idolatrous</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Catholics maintained and even intensified the traditional use of icons, both printed and on paper, using the different styles of the <a href="/wiki/Renaissance" title="Renaissance">Renaissance</a> and <a href="/wiki/Baroque" title="Baroque">Baroque</a>. Popular Catholic imagery to a certain extent has remained attached to a <a href="/wiki/Baroque_painting" title="Baroque painting">Baroque style</a> of about 1650, especially in <a href="/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a> and <a href="/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a>. </p><p>In the <a href="/wiki/Church_of_England" title="Church of England">Church of England</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Coat of arms of the United Kingdom">Royal Arms of the United Kingdom</a> has been used like an icon, owing to its absence of human portraiture, as a representation of the sovereign as Head of the Church. It has been carved in relief out of wood and stone as well as painted on canvas and paper.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Hinduism">Hinduism</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Hinduism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Murudeshwar_shiva.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Murudeshwar_shiva.JPG/260px-Murudeshwar_shiva.JPG" decoding="async" width="260" height="195" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Murudeshwar_shiva.JPG 1.5x" data-file-width="273" data-file-height="205" /></a><figcaption>Statue of <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a> represented with his attributes of the drum <i><a href="/wiki/Damaru" title="Damaru">damaru</a></i> (right), his trident <i><a href="/wiki/Trishula" title="Trishula">trishula</a></i> (left), and his snake <a href="/wiki/Vasuki" title="Vasuki">Vasuki</a> around his neck</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Hindu_iconography" title="Hindu iconography">Hindu iconography</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Mandala" title="Mandala">Mandala</a></div> <p>Representations of <a href="/wiki/Hindu_deities" title="Hindu deities">Hindu deities</a> are rich in symbolism as well as interpretation. Deities are popularly portrayed in the form of paintings, statues, devotional images called <i><a href="/wiki/Murti" title="Murti">murti</a></i>s, as well as in abstract forms found in the natural environment. Deities often bear a number of attributes associated with them, such as weapons like the discus <a href="/wiki/Sudarshana_Chakra" title="Sudarshana Chakra">Sudarshana Chakra</a> of <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Vahana" title="Vahana">mounts</a> such as the peacock of <a href="/wiki/Kartikeya" title="Kartikeya">Kartikeya</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> sacred objects such as the <a href="/wiki/Sacred_lotus_in_religious_art" title="Sacred lotus in religious art">lotus</a> of <a href="/wiki/Lakshmi" title="Lakshmi">Lakshmi</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> as well as regalia such as crowns and necklaces, and traditional attires such as the <i><a href="/wiki/Sari" title="Sari">sari</a>.</i><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some gods and goddesses are depicted with a multiplicity of features, such as <i><a href="/wiki/Chaturbhuja" title="Chaturbhuja">chaturbhuja</a></i> (four hands) or <i><a href="/wiki/Panchamukha" title="Panchamukha">panchamukha</a></i> (five faces), both of which highlight divinity.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some deities such as Vishnu and his <a href="/wiki/Avatar" title="Avatar">incarnations</a> are depicted blue, which represents the colour of the sky, with the belief that the deity is omnipresent.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Some of the most common religious symbols in the religion are the <i><a href="/wiki/Om" title="Om">Om</a></i>, the sacred syllable regarded to represent the <a href="/wiki/Para_Brahman" title="Para Brahman">Ultimate Reality</a>, and the <i><a href="/wiki/Swastika" title="Swastika">Swastika</a></i>, a symbol of auspiciousness.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The mode of worshipping deities through religious images is described in <a href="/wiki/Hindu_texts" title="Hindu texts">Hindu texts</a> such as the <i><a href="/wiki/Puranas" title="Puranas">Puranas</a></i>, with prescriptions of the manner in which an image should be installed, consecrated, decorated, as well as venerated.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Islam">Islam</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Islam"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Islamic_art" title="Islamic art">Islamic art</a></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Muslims" title="Muslims">Muslims</a> view sanctified icons as idols, and strictly forbid their <a href="/wiki/Worship" title="Worship">worship</a>, nor do they pray in front of one.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> However, the various <a href="/wiki/Divisions_of_Islam" class="mw-redirect" title="Divisions of Islam">divisions of Islam</a> take different positions on the role of visual depictions of living (or once-living) creatures, including people. At one end of the spectrum, sects such as the <a href="/wiki/Wahhabi" class="mw-redirect" title="Wahhabi">Wahhabis</a> totally ban drawings and photography.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Some branches of Islam forbid only the former but allow the latter. The majority of <a href="/wiki/Sunni" class="mw-redirect" title="Sunni">Sunni</a> Muslims permit both. Some <a href="/wiki/Shia" class="mw-redirect" title="Shia">Shia</a> allow even <a href="/wiki/Depictions_of_Muhammad" title="Depictions of Muhammad">the depiction of</a> <a href="/wiki/Muhammad" title="Muhammad">Muhammad</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Twelve_Imams" title="Twelve Imams">twelve Imams</a>, a position totally unacceptable to most Sunnis.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Judaism">Judaism</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Judaism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>It is commonly thought that the <a href="/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Jews</a> absolutely prohibit "<a href="/wiki/Idolatry" title="Idolatry">graven images</a>"; this, however, is not entirely true. There are numerous instances within <a href="/wiki/Torah" title="Torah">the scriptures</a> that describe the creation and use of images for religious purposes (the angels on the <a href="/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant" title="Ark of the Covenant">Ark of the Covenant</a>, the bronze snake <a href="/wiki/Moses" title="Moses">Moses</a> mounted on a pole, etc.). What is important to note is that none of these are worshipped as <a href="/wiki/God" title="God">God</a>. Since God is incorporeal and has no form, He cannot be depicted. During the Late Antique period of <a href="/wiki/Jewish_history" title="Jewish history">Jewish history</a> it is clear that restrictions on representation were relaxed considerably; for example, the synagogue at <a href="/wiki/Dura_Europas" class="mw-redirect" title="Dura Europas">Dura Europas</a> had large figurative wall paintings.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> It is also clear there was a tradition of painted <a href="/wiki/Scroll" title="Scroll">scrolls</a>, of which the <a href="/wiki/Joshua_Roll" title="Joshua Roll">Joshua Roll</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Utrecht_Psalter" title="Utrecht Psalter">Utrecht Psalter</a> are medieval Christian copies, none of the originals having survived.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2010)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> There are also many medieval <a href="/wiki/Illuminated_manuscript" title="Illuminated manuscript">illuminated manuscripts</a>, especially of the <a href="/wiki/Haggadah_of_Pesach" class="mw-redirect" title="Haggadah of Pesach">Haggadah of Pesach</a> (<a href="/wiki/Passover" title="Passover">Passover</a>). </p><p>A unique Jewish tradition of animal iconography was developed in Eastern Europe, which included symbolic depictions of God's attributes and powers as various animal scenes and plant ornaments in the <a href="/wiki/Wooden_synagogues" class="mw-redirect" title="Wooden synagogues">wooden synagogues</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Polish-Lithuanian_commonwealth" class="mw-redirect" title="Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth">Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth</a>, as well as some mystical imagery on the gravestones. A part of the same imagery also appears on the <a href="/wiki/Ashkenazic" class="mw-redirect" title="Ashkenazic">Ashkenazic</a> <a href="/wiki/Shiviti" title="Shiviti">Shivisi</a> - meditative images used for contemplation over God's name, not unlike the Eastern <a href="/wiki/Mandala" title="Mandala">Mandalas</a>. </p><p>Some synagogue wall paintings contained over 80 various animals, including lions, <a href="/wiki/Unicorn" title="Unicorn">unicorns</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dragon" title="Dragon">dragons</a>, lion-headed mermaids, <a href="/wiki/Three_hares" title="Three hares">three hares</a>, three intertwined fishes, <a href="/wiki/Uroboros" class="mw-redirect" title="Uroboros">Uroboros</a>, elephants, deer, leopards, bears, foxes, wolves, squirrels, turkeys, ostriches and many others. </p><p>God himself was usually represented as a two-headed golden eagle in the center of the Sun, painted on the ceiling of the synagogue, and surrounded by the Zodiac circle. This system was based on the <a href="/wiki/Kabbalah" title="Kabbalah">Kabbalistic</a> symbolic <a href="/wiki/Tradition" title="Tradition">tradition</a>; unfortunately, the meaning of some forgotten symbols is hard to recover. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Thomas_Hubka" title="Thomas Hubka">Thomas Hubka</a> has traced the style of decorative painting in the wooden synagogues to the medieval Hebrew illuminated manuscripts of Ashkenazi Jewry, and its meaning to the <a href="/wiki/Jews" title="Jews">Jewish</a> <a href="/wiki/Mysticism" title="Mysticism">mystical</a> <a href="/wiki/Literature" title="Literature">literature</a>, such as the <a href="/wiki/Zohar" title="Zohar">Zohar</a> and the works of Rabbi <a href="/wiki/Eleazar_of_Worms" title="Eleazar of Worms">Elazar Rokeach</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cult_image" title="Cult image">Cult image</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Icon" title="Icon">Icon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sacred_tradition" title="Sacred tradition">Sacred tradition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Veneration" title="Veneration">Veneration</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Wilpert-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Wilpert_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Wilpert_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFWilpert1903" class="citation book cs1">Wilpert, Joseph, ed. (1903). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1339#0024"><i>Die Malereien der Katakomben Roms (Tafeln)</i></a>. Freiburg i.Br. p. plate 22. <q>Isaias predicts the birth of the Messiah from the Virgin</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Die+Malereien+der+Katakomben+Roms+%28Tafeln%29&rft.place=Freiburg+i.Br.&rft.pages=plate+22&rft.date=1903&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.11588%2Fdiglit.1339%230024&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">cite book</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher" title="Category:CS1 maint: location missing publisher">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">St. John Damascene, <i>On the Holy Icons</i> (<a href="/wiki/Patrologia_Graecae" class="mw-redirect" title="Patrologia Graecae">Patrologia Graecae</a>, xciv, 1245A)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHasler1980" class="citation book cs1">Hasler, Charles (1980). <i>The Royal Arms – Its Graphic And Decorative Development</i>. Jupiter. pp. 87, 93, 97.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Royal+Arms+%E2%80%93+Its+Graphic+And+Decorative+Development&rft.pages=87%2C+93%2C+97&rft.pub=Jupiter&rft.date=1980&rft.aulast=Hasler&rft.aufirst=Charles&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span> Retrieved 29 August 2017.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFElgood2000" class="citation book cs1">Elgood, Heather (2000-04-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=cj2tAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA57"><i>Hinduism and the Religious Arts</i></a>. A&C Black. p. 57. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-304-70739-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-304-70739-3"><bdi>978-0-304-70739-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Hinduism+and+the+Religious+Arts&rft.pages=57&rft.pub=A%26C+Black&rft.date=2000-04-01&rft.isbn=978-0-304-70739-3&rft.aulast=Elgood&rft.aufirst=Heather&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dcj2tAwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA57&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFKrishna2014" class="citation book cs1">Krishna, Nanditha (2014-05-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DF_af8_547EC&pg=PT271"><i>Sacred Animals of India</i></a>. Penguin UK. p. 271. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-8475-182-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-8475-182-6"><bdi>978-81-8475-182-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Sacred+Animals+of+India&rft.pages=271&rft.pub=Penguin+UK&rft.date=2014-05-01&rft.isbn=978-81-8475-182-6&rft.aulast=Krishna&rft.aufirst=Nanditha&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DDF_af8_547EC%26pg%3DPT271&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWalker2019" class="citation book cs1">Walker, Benjamin (2019-04-09). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8J2RDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT234"><i>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume II M-Z</i></a>. Routledge. p. 234. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-429-62419-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-429-62419-3"><bdi>978-0-429-62419-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Hindu+World%3A+An+Encyclopedic+Survey+of+Hinduism.+In+Two+Volumes.+Volume+II+M-Z&rft.pages=234&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2019-04-09&rft.isbn=978-0-429-62419-3&rft.aulast=Walker&rft.aufirst=Benjamin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D8J2RDwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPT234&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFlueckiger2015" class="citation book cs1">Flueckiger, Joyce Burkhalter (2015-05-06). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=0inWBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA90"><i>Everyday Hinduism</i></a>. John Wiley & Sons. p. 90. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4051-6021-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4051-6021-6"><bdi>978-1-4051-6021-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Everyday+Hinduism&rft.pages=90&rft.pub=John+Wiley+%26+Sons&rft.date=2015-05-06&rft.isbn=978-1-4051-6021-6&rft.aulast=Flueckiger&rft.aufirst=Joyce+Burkhalter&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D0inWBgAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA90&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFPadmaja2002" class="citation book cs1">Padmaja, T. (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&pg=PA117"><i>Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu</i></a>. Abhinav Publications. p. 117. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-7017-398-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-7017-398-4"><bdi>978-81-7017-398-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Temples+of+Kr%CC%A5%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%87a+in+South+India%3A+History%2C+Art%2C+and+Traditions+in+Tamiln%C4%81%E1%B8%8Du&rft.pages=117&rft.pub=Abhinav+Publications&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=978-81-7017-398-4&rft.aulast=Padmaja&rft.aufirst=T.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DpzgaS1wRnl8C%26pg%3DPA117&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFGibson2002" class="citation book cs1">Gibson, Lynne (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kaBqYvH02_QC&pg=PA16"><i>Hinduism</i></a>. Heinemann. p. 16. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-435-33619-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-435-33619-6"><bdi>978-0-435-33619-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Hinduism&rft.pages=16&rft.pub=Heinemann&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=978-0-435-33619-6&rft.aulast=Gibson&rft.aufirst=Lynne&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DkaBqYvH02_QC%26pg%3DPA16&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFBose2021" class="citation book cs1">Bose, Arunava (2021-08-26). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=6XM_EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA31"><i>Shrouded in symbols</i></a>. Ukiyoto Publishing. pp. <span class="nowrap">31–</span>32. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-93-5490-116-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-93-5490-116-4"><bdi>978-93-5490-116-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Shrouded+in+symbols&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E31-%3C%2Fspan%3E32&rft.pub=Ukiyoto+Publishing&rft.date=2021-08-26&rft.isbn=978-93-5490-116-4&rft.aulast=Bose&rft.aufirst=Arunava&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D6XM_EAAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA31&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFShastri2000" class="citation book cs1">Shastri, J. L. (2000-01-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=4kbmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA217"><i>The Siva Purana Part 1: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 1</i></a>. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 217. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-208-3868-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-208-3868-0"><bdi>978-81-208-3868-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Siva+Purana+Part+1%3A+Ancient+Indian+Tradition+and+Mythology+Volume+1&rft.pages=217&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass&rft.date=2000-01-01&rft.isbn=978-81-208-3868-0&rft.aulast=Shastri&rft.aufirst=J.+L.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D4kbmDwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA217&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFStephanides2021" class="citation book cs1">Stephanides, Stephanos (2021-12-28). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=-SJXEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA115"><i>Translating Kali's Feast: The Goddess in Indo-Caribbean Ritual and Fiction</i></a>. BRILL. p. 115. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-48621-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-48621-8"><bdi>978-90-04-48621-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Translating+Kali%27s+Feast%3A+The+Goddess+in+Indo-Caribbean+Ritual+and+Fiction&rft.pages=115&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2021-12-28&rft.isbn=978-90-04-48621-8&rft.aulast=Stephanides&rft.aufirst=Stephanos&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D-SJXEAAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA115&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReligious+image" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"Medieval Themes in the Wall-Paintings of 17th and 18th-Century Polish Wooden Synagogues," by Thomas C. Hubka, p. 213 ff. in <i>Imagining the Self, Imagining the Other: Visual Representation and Jewish-Christian Dynamics in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, edited By Eva Frojmovic, BRILL, 2002</i></span> </li> </ol></div></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&oldid=1281675269">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_image&oldid=1281675269</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:History_of_art" title="Category:History of art">History of art</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Visual_arts_genres" title="Category:Visual arts genres">Visual arts genres</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Religious_iconography" title="Category:Religious iconography">Religious iconography</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Religious_art" title="Category:Religious art">Religious art</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher" title="Category:CS1 maint: location missing publisher">CS1 maint: location missing publisher</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_needing_additional_references_from_February_2010" title="Category:Articles needing additional references from February 2010">Articles needing additional references from February 2010</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_needing_additional_references" title="Category:All articles needing additional references">All articles needing additional references</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_unsourced_statements" title="Category:All articles with unsourced statements">All articles with unsourced statements</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_June_2022" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements from June 2022">Articles with unsourced statements from June 2022</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_February_2010" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010">Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 21 March 2025, at 20:14<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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