Halo (Halo) in Latin means "cloud", "cloud» (nimbus) and is a bright glowing circle overhead.In form it may be different: a triangular, round, hexagonal.But the hallmark of the image of Jesus Christ is all (Groin) halo, which is inscribed cross.
Although his images are most often found on Christian or Catholic icons and paintings, where there is holy, yet the story of its origin is rooted in ancient times.Drawn halos, illuminating the heads of people, met for centuries in various cultures - Greek, Byzantine, Muslim, Christian.In the East, a glowing halo around the forehead has always symbolized the reward for righteous living and means enlightenment.
halo over his head: Provenance
There is not one but several versions about how there is such a symbol of holiness, like a halo.According to some scholars, it preceded the Greek meniscus - paten, which was located around the heads of the statues to protect them from birds and weather.Other experts say that the halo around the head has emerged as a consequence of the tradition, according to which was placed on the back of the heroes of the shield.
most sensible interpretation is still considered to be Greek, based on mythology.According to ancient legends, the gods of Olympus were often people in human form.From them came the blinding light of clear, referring to the luminous ether, the aerial atmosphere, habitat of the gods.This implies that the glow - is a sign of belonging to the gods.A little later it began to be honored and mere mortals, who had the honor of being on the same level with the heavenly representatives.Over time, the divine glow slightly reduced, and the image was applied only glowing halo above his head.Later, the Greeks the symbol of holiness was borrowed by Christians, Egyptians, Romans and Buddhists.
distinctive features
Christians halo around the head and today is a sign of the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, angels and saints.But on the icons, he may be depicted in different ways.For example, in the face of God the Father, the halo over the head is triangular in shape, or form of a six-pointed star.Also, in the image of a dove with a triangular halo can be displayed, and the Holy Spirit.With regard to Christ the Savior, he painted glow, which is inscribed in the cross.Jesus also may be halo, where instead of the cross shows three lines of light or beam of rays emanating from the center of the radius of the disk.
Nimbus Virgin round in shape and is decorated with twelve stars, radiant crown or tiara.Angels, martyrs, apostles and saints are depicted with round golden halo around his head.At the patriarchs and prophets usually glow color silver.
between images halos Orthodox and Catholic iconography, there are certain differences.In the Christian tradition the divine aura of paint around the entire head and Catholics over it to form a circle.
What do the halo over his head before the saints?
halo or corona, is a sign of a perfect man, a confirmation of his special psychic power.Most often pay attention to the aura superpersonality in the head.This zone of light in the form of a triangle, a square or a circle speaks of emanations of the soul, the spiritual energy of the saints or divine persons.
initially glowing halo around the head compared with the solar disk and was considered a manifestation of the power of the Sun, its attribute of gods.In the eastern iconography so identified solar deity.Halo over his head talked about empowerment, power or spiritual power.The secular iconography of this attribute is a crown.
luminous halo, and sometimes acted as an attribute of the Phoenix, a symbol of immortality.Some figures have a halo and Satan, for example, in Byzantine art.This made it clear that he is also endowed with power.
Color support and shape
golden halo is usually represented by Christian art, the Hindus it is red, blue at the ancient gods.In some cases met the rainbow.
Round halo (halo) in Byzantine art was the hallmark of the dead, who during his lifetime were highly moral, and they descended the mercy of heaven.For example, Mary is always depicted with a round and often exquisitely decorated with a halo around his head.In the divine persons and saints halo is similar, but without ornaments.
Cross inside a circle or a cross-shaped halo - is a specific symbol characterizing the Atonement and Crucifixion of Christ.But a halo in the form of an ellipse indicates the spiritual world.
hexagonal or square halo indicating the saint among the living or the average person, but, for example, the donor.Here, the square is considered inferior and a symbol of the earth, circle, in turn, is a sign of eternal life, heaven.Square halo still treated as follows: three of his side - a trinity, and one - the whole chapter.
triangular halo - a sign of the Holy Trinity, or the Triune God.Galo, having the shape of a triangle or a rhombus, is portrayed in icons of God the Father.
polygonal haloes have always been used to depict people, renowned for their virtue, or other allegorical figures.Hexagonal halo spoke about the great merits and, once again, emphasized the allegorical nature of iconographic figure.On the double aspect of divinity made it clear double halo or rays.
What makes haloes from different religions?
Very informative and interesting to know what is meant by a halo over his head saints of different religions.The Buddha, for example, halo, and red shows the dynamism of the solar activity.In Hinduism, Shiva is the rim of the flame, symbolizing the cosmos.The Persians glowing aura spoke of the power of Ahura Mazda.In the ancient Asian art and the halo was a favorite means of conveying the greatness of kings, rulers and deified in money coins of Roman emperors.In Mithraism halo - a pointer to the light of the sun, as well as his god Mithras.Psychology gives the designation of a halo around the head as follows: it is the solar crown.
Nimbus Christianity
believed that Christianity came from halo iconography of Mithraism, which was originally named as expelled from the Roman Empire.He borrowed from the image rulers and pagan gods of the sun.He argued that a halo on his head the holy first appeared in the Roman catacombs of Calixtus in the II century.They crowned the head of Christ, continue in the same way to identify a special divine status of Mary and angels.
