iconoclasm etymology

Etymology:

• Late 16th century: from ecclesiastical Latin iconoclasmus, from Greek eikonoklasmos, from eikono- 'image' + klasmos 'breaking'

Meaning:

• The destruction or desecration of images or other objects, especially of religious significance.

Origin:

The term "iconoclasm" was originally used in the context of religious conflicts in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries. The Byzantine emperor Leo III the Isaurian issued a decree in 726 prohibiting the veneration of icons, which he considered to be idolatrous. This led to a widespread destruction of religious images, both in the empire and beyond.

The term has since been used to describe similar movements in other religious and cultural contexts, such as the Protestant Reformation in Europe during the 16th century, which resulted in the destruction of many Catholic images and statues.

In modern usage, iconoclasm can also refer to any kind of destruction or desecration of symbols or representations, not necessarily limited to religious objects.

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