Iconoclasts, or image breakers, fought against the iconophiles, those who loved and supported the use of icons. Byzantine Iconoclasm and the Triumph The condemnation therein of idolatry seems to have weighed heavily with Leo III, who may have been influenced by Islam, a religion that strictly prohibited the use of religious images. JSTOR, the JSTOR logo, and ITHAKA are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. In these treatises, after drawing the line between correct and incorrect worship, John attempts to define the nature of images. The prohibition was lifted from 787 to 815, but reinstated thereafter. The Harvard Theological Review, Vol. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. The Iconoclasm started in 725 CE when the Byzantine emperor Leo III banned icons in the Byzantine Empire. . He went on to speak of the restoration of images: [The Church] now regains the ancient dignity of her comeliness. Constantine V, on the other hand, pridefully replaced the icons with imperial portraits and with representations of his own victories. Mosaics of plain crosses can also be found in other churches in Constantinople, including the Hagia Sophia. 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Today, the largest existing collection of Byzantine icons is housed at St. Catherine's monastery. Clearly, while the iconoclasts opposed certain types of religious imagery, they did not reject art entirely, and were sometimes important patrons of art and architecture, as was Constantine V. There is also evidence that emperor Theophiloswho reigned during the second phase of Iconoclasmexpanded and lavishly decorated the imperial palace and other spaces. For reasons not entirely clear, Theodora and Theoktistos installed the iconophile patriarch Methodios I and once again affirmed religious images in 843, definitively ending Byzantine Iconoclasm. This would violate the second commandment, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images. Church leaders at the Quinisext Council (also known as the Council of Trullo) held in Constantinople in 691692 prohibited the depiction of crosses on floors where they could be walked on, which was understood as disrespectful. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 1 Brubaker, Leslie and Haldon, John, Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era: the sources, FarnhamBurlington, Vt 2001Google Scholar. JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. In the 8th century, the Eastern or Orthodox branch of Christianity gave history the word iconoclasm, from the Greek words for icon smashing. In Orthodox Christianity, ikons images of God, Mary, saints, and martyrs are more than just paintings or mosaics: they are holy objects in of themselves and worthy of veneration. Two mosaics with examples of iconoclasm, from the chruch on the acropolis, Main, Jordan, 71920 and later. Iconoclasts and iconodules agreed on one fundamental point: a Christian people could not prosper unless it assumed the right attitude toward the holy images, or icons. Michaels contribution to the iconoclast movement was banning the discussion of icons, and Theophilos renewed the persecutions of those who worshiped them. In 867, patriarch Photios, the highest-ranking Church official in Constantinople, preached a homily in Hagia Sophia on the dedication of the new mosaic. The iconoclasts, or image breakers, were concerned that the use of icons went beyond a focal point and had become an object of worship themselves. A key example of art during Byzantine Iconoclasm was the cross in the apse of Hagia Eirene, one of the most important churches of Constantinople. Constantine publicly argued against icons and convened a Church council that rejected religious imagesat the palace in the Constantinople suburb of Hieria in 754. 3. After reviewing this lesson, you should be able to, To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Madaba Archaeological Park, Jordan. St Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai has the largest collection of Byzantine icons today. What we do know is that the prohibition essentially caused a civil war which shook the political, social and religious spheres of the empire. Comments are moderated and publication times may vary. There are 38 fully-developed lessons on 10 important topics that Adventist school students face in their daily lives. Nevertheless, these different meanings retain a connection to the words original meaning. But in Christs person, God became visible, as a concrete human being, so painting Christ is necessary as a proof that God truly, not seemingly, became man. Leslie Brubaker, Inventing Byzantine Iconoclasm (London: Bristol Classical Press, 2012). According to traditional accounts, Iconoclasm was prompted by emperor Leo III removing an icon of Christ from the Chalke Gate of the imperial palace in Constantinople in 726 or 730, sparking a widespread destruction of images and a persecution of those who defended images. We have provided a link on this CD below to Acrobat Reader v.8 installer. In the two remaining ones, he rejects the possibility of representing the divine nature of Christ. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. Iconophiles like John of Damascus and Theodore the Studite supported icons as images to worship. Emperor Diocletian Overview, Reforms & Palace | Who was Diocletian? Constantinople had followed the Orthodox view established at the Council of Nicaea, but this later changed. The immediate issues between the two sees were matters of ecclesiastical supremacy, the liturgy, and clerical discipline; behind those sources of division lay the question of jurisdiction over the converts in Bulgaria. The writings of Ellen White are a great gift to help us be prepared. Thanks to the assistance of the traditional allies, the Khazars, Leos reign concluded with a major victory, won again at the expense of the Arabs, at Acroenos (740). Equally fanatic in their convictions as Constantine was in his, iconodules in Constantinople gathered around Stephen the Younger, who was killed by a mob in 765. Render date: 2023-08-21T13:23:34.960Z We publish articles grounded in peer-reviewed research and provide free access to that research for all of our readers. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. n. The beliefs, practices, or doctrine of an iconoclast. Such is the general account of the iconoclast controversy of the eighth and ninth centuries in Byzantium. Her iconodule policies alienated many among the themal troops, who were still loyal to the memory of the great warrior emperor, Constantine V. In an effort to maintain her popularity among the monkish defenders of the icons and with the population of Constantinople, she rebated taxes to which those groups were subject, and she reduced the customs duties levied outside the port of Constantinople, at Abydos and Hieros. centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world. . In that sense, the only thing that should be worshiped is that archetype itself, not its copy. hasContentIssue false. Byzantine anxieties over images likely emerge, at least in part, as a result of these devastating events (which may have been perceived as signs of Gods displeasure with icons). Michael was the first emperor to bear a family name, and his use of the patronymic, Rhangabe, bears witness to the emergence of the great families, whose accumulation of landed properties would soon threaten the integrity of those smallholders upon whom the empire depended for its taxes and its military service. For more than a century after the accession of Leo III (717741), a persisting theme in Byzantine history may be found in the attempts made by the emperors, often with wide popular support, to eliminate the veneration of icons, a practice that had earlier played a major part in creating the morale essential to survival. For John, the validity of images is based on the belief that Christ and humankind itself are images of God, material manifestations of a spiritual ideal. The sociologists Michael Radlet and Marian Borg test out six arguments for and against capital punishment. Roundels with crosses, which survive today, likely once contained portraits of saints, which patriarch Niketas is said to have removed. the iconoclasts] had cast down here pious emperors have again set up. Yet unlike at Nicaea, there is no evidence of the apses previous decoration or of any interventions by iconoclasts. Iconoclasm in eighth- and ninth-century Byzantium is often presented as a straightforward, universal policy that was widely enforced. Content may require purchase if you do not have access. Almost immediately upon Leos accession, the empires fortunes improved markedly. They pictured the Virgin and Child standing on a jeweled footstool in the apse. Important Note: To access all the resources on this site, use the menu buttons along the top and left side of the page. 312 lessons. Iconoclasm certainly played its part in the further alienation of East from West, and a closer examination of its doctrines will suggest why this may have been. Another hypothesis, though less likely, argues that the emperor sought to integrate Muslim and Jewish populations, who viewed Christian images as idols. With the aid of the Bulgars, he turned back the Muslim assault in 718 and, in the intervals of warfare during the next 20 years, addressed himself to the task of reorganizing and consolidating the themes in Asia Minor. Discover the Byzantine icons' history, review emperor Leo III's position on icons, and examine the destruction of religious images. Paul A. Underwood, The Evidence of Restorations in the Sanctuary Mosaics of the Church of the Dormition at Nicaea, Dumbarton Oaks Papers 13 (1959): 235243. WebIconoclasm ( Eikonoklasmos, Image-breaking) is the name of the heresy that in the eighth and ninth centuries disturbed the peace of the Eastern Church, caused the last of the many breaches with Rome that prepared the way for the schism of Photius, and was echoed on a smaller scale in the Frankish kingdom in the West. Robin Cormack and Ernest J. W. Hawkins, The Mosaics of St. Sophia at Istanbul: The Rooms above the Southwest Vestibule and Ramp,, Paul A. 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Another zealous champion of icons was Theodore the Studite, the abbot of the Stoudios monastery in Constantinople. Byzantine Emperor Leo III interpreted this natural disaster as divine anger that could only be appeased by banning the worship of icons. Nicephorus I (ruled 802811), the able finance minister who succeeded Irene, reimposed the taxes that the empress had remitted and instituted other reforms that provide some insight into the financial administration of the empire during the early 9th century. Each could discover supporting arguments in the writings of the early church, and it is essential to remember that the debate over images is as old as Christian art. How Did the Byzantines Influence the Italian Renaissance? However, extant objects from the provinces during that period suggest a more complex, nuanced situation. Hagia Eirene, begun 532, rebuilt following an earthquake in 740, Constantinople (Istanbul) (photo: Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 4.0), Hagia Eirene, begun 532, rebuilt following an earthquake in 740, Constantinople (Istanbul) (photo: Gryffindor, CC0). Historical texts suggest the struggle over images began in the 720s. Learn about Byzantine iconoclasm. In the foreground is the portrait of the last iconoclast patriarch of Constantinople, John Grammatikos, standing before the icon of Christ. An account of the age of Iconoclasm opens appropriately, then, with its military history. He also initiated the persecution of artisans who made icons and iconophiles who defended their use. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. In the 8th century, the Eastern or Orthodox branch of Christianity gave historythe word iconoclasm, from the Greek words for icon smashing.. He summoned the iconoclastic Council in Hieria in 754 and officially proclaimed icons as idols, ordered their destruction, and cast an anathema on all iconodules (servants of images). Iconoclasm To them, humans should strive toward the archetype of these images. An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. The same year, Leo V summoned the second Council of Iconoclasts, overturning the decisions of the 7th Ecumenical Council, casting an anathema on its participants, and proclaiming the Council of Hieria as legitimate. Although Leo V returned the Church politics to Iconoclasm in 815, the movement didnt have the same power and significance it had in the 8th century. Theologically, Leo III also proposed that icons broke the second commandment: 'you shall not make any graven images.' Iconoclasm varies significantly amongst faiths and their branches but is highest in religions that abhor idolatry, such as the Abrahamic religions. Although the church does not survive today, photographs from 1912 clearly show seams, or sutures, where parts of the mosaics were removed and replaced during the Byzantine era. Plan of Hagia Sophia showing apse mosaic and sekreton mosaics, Mosaics in the small sekreton, Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul) (photo: Dumbarton Oaks). These presentations help teach about Ellen White, her ministry, and her writings. Constantinople lost the possibility to influence the politics of the Roman Church, which was now in the hands of the Franks. Privacy Policy Contact Us Figure 3. . Taking arms himself, he led his troops against the new and vigorous Bulgar khan, Krum, only to meet defeat and death at the latters hands. Iconophiles argued that the icon's image does not actually represent the actual saint depicted. Byzantine iconoclasm ended in 843 when the Empress Theodora, widow of Emperor Theophilus, reversed her husband's iconoclastic position and allowed the return of icons to places of worship. Unlike the average monk, they were often educated laymen, trained in the imperial service and ready to compromise with imperial authority. Iconoclasts argued that it did, creating too close a connection between the image and the actual person depicted. The first phase of Iconoclasm: 720s787 Historical texts suggest the struggle over images began in the 720s. Iconoclasm was embraced by Emperor Leo III, who ruled from 717-to 741 and instituted a plan of destroying existing icons. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. - Biography, Books & Quotes, The Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536: Facts & Overview, Guy Fawkes Night Poem: Meaning & Analysis, The Rye House Plot of 1683: Definition & Impact, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Describe the events of the Byzantine Iconoclasm. The ablest defender of the iconodule position was, however, the 8th-century theologian St. John of Damascus. This council affirmed the view of the iconophiles, ordering all right-believing (orthodox) Christians to respect holy icons, prohibiting at the same time their adoration as idolatry. Other scholars offer a less political motive, suggesting that the prohibition was primarily religious, an attempt to correct the wayward practice of worshiping images. This council affirmed the view of the iconophiles, ordering all right-believing (orthodox) Christians to respect holy icons, prohibiting at the same time their adoration as idolatry. Copyright Cambridge University Press 2014, Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS; e-mail: judith.herrin@kcl.ac.uk, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022046913001589, Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research So what kind of art did the destroyers of icons make? Brubaker, Leslie and Haldon, John, Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era: the sources, FarnhamBurlington, V t 2001 Google Scholar. one would not be far wrong.Photios, Homily 17, 3. for this article. Iconoclasts like Leo III, on the other hand, believed icons represented actual people, and Jesus should only be represented in the Eucharist. Between 726 and 727, an enormous volcanic eruption hit the islands of Thera and Therasia in the Aegean Sea. Recent scholarship is making the case that the old "black-and-white" narrative of the iconoclast period needs significant reconsideration, and that cultural diffusion is certainly a greater force in history than ideological competition. Iconoclasm refers to any destruction of images, including the Byzantine Iconoclastic Controversy of the eighth and ninth centuries, although the Byzantines themselves did not use this term. Sporadic evidence of Christians creating religious images and honoring them with candles and garlands emerges from as early as the second century C.E. Also, the Arab leader, Caliph Yazid II, condemned icons in his territories in 721, and his empire boomed after that. The iconoclasts also objected to practices of honoring icons with candles and incense, and by bowing before and kissing them, in which worshippers seemed to worship created matter (the icon itself) rather than the creator. Besides Leo IIIs interpretations of natural disasters as the signs of Gods anger, there were several theological and philosophical arguments for the destruction of icons. "coreDisableSocialShare": false, The new emperor, Michael II, was indeed able to establish a dynastythe Amorian, or Phrygianhis son Theophilus (829842) and his grandson Michael III (842867) each occupying the throne in turn, but none would have forecast so happy a future during Michael IIs first years. Details of the mosaics on the western courtyard wall from the Friday Mosque, Damascus, 705715. Iconodules (those supporting the use of images) such as John of Damascus rejected the iconoclasts' accusations of idolatry. 51-62, Berghahn Books in association with the Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Another theory suggests that the prohibition was an attempt to restrain the growing wealth and power of the monasteries. These events suggest the growing importance of religious images in the Byzantine Empire at this time. You shall not make for yourself a carved imageany likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth. The Byzantine people were divided into Orthodox and Krum died suddenly in 814 as he was preparing an attack upon Constantinople, and his son, Omortag, arranged a peace with the Byzantine Empire in order to protect the western frontiers of his Bulgar empire against the pressures exerted by Frankish expansion under Charlemagne and his successors. Download: English | German. edn, New Haven 1987, 4371Google Scholar. Due to limited capacity, we may not admit visitors at the end of the day. 1 April 2022 by Serhat Engl Byzantine Iconoclasm was the result of theological oppositions that started in the first years of the empire and continued for centuries. In a more specificly, the word is used for the Iconoclastic Controversy that shook the Byzantine Empire for more than 100 years. By damaging the relationship between Rome and Constantinople, Iconoclasm helped usher in a new age of Western Europe under the rule of the Carolingian Empire. To learn more, click here. The Church acclaimed the restoration of images as the Triumph of Orthodoxy, which continues to be commemorated annually on the first Sunday of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day. However, none of these caused the tremendous social, political and cultural upheaval of the Iconoclastic Controversy. While Byzantine iconoclasm was primarily concerned with the veneration of images of Christ and the saints, the rearranging of the mosaics in question seems directed against depiction of any animate figures. [4] WebThe First Iconoclasm, as it is sometimes called, occurred between about 726 and 787, while the Second Iconoclasm occurred between 814 and 842. All those may explain the weakness displayed throughout Theophiluss reign, when a Muslim army defeated the emperor himself (838) as a prelude to the capture of the fortress of Amorium in Asia Minor. Charles Barber, Figure and Likeness: On the Limits of Representation in Byzantine Iconoclasm (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002). } Right: Detail showing a fanciful pavilion with hanging pearl chains. The latters intransigent zealotry found little favour with Caesar Bardas, Michaels uncle, who had seized power from the empress regent in 856. WebIn the Byzantine world, Iconoclasm refers to a theological debate involving both the Byzantine church and state. Probably as a result of this council, iconoclasts replaced images of saints with crosses in the sekreton (audience hall) between the patriarchal palace and Constantinoples great cathedral, Hagia Sophia, in the 760s (discussed further below). Iconoclasm, a term meaning the destruction of images, represents a period of Byzantine history when the State prohibited the production of religious images. Has data issue: false We also recommend using Mozillas Firefox Internet Browser for this web site. The Iconoclasm ended in 843 CE, but only after thousands of icons were destroyed. Irene summoned an iconophile council in Nicaea in 787, later proclaimed as the 7th Ecumenical Council, negating the Council of Hieria. Create your account, 32 chapters | Not until 843 were the icons definitively restored to their places of worship and icon veneration solemnly proclaimed as Orthodox belief. Thus, the second wave of Iconoclasm was marked by the reigns of Leo V, Michael II, and Theophilos. Icons (Greek for images) refers to the religious images of Byzantium, made from a variety of media, which depict holy figures and events. Total loading time: 0 According to the traditional view, Byzantine Iconoclasm was started by a ban on religious images promulgated by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian , [3] and continued under his successors. Iconophiles opposed iconoclasts. Two years later Ignatius was deposed and replaced by a moderate: the scholar and layman Photius. 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