icons

Icons. Icons are images that represent important, political or religious figures. iconoclasm is the destruction of these images. iconoclasm literally means "image breaking" and refers to a recurring historical impulse to break or destroy images for religious or political reasons. Iconoclasm could also refer to censorship. An example of image censorship would be the modesty censorship on all the crucified Christ artwork. Another would be the covering of nude sculptures all through out the roman empire.

one of the most known cases of Iconoclasm involved the Byzantine church and state during the years 726–87 and 815–43. Leo III began the iconoclast campaign. He ordered the removal of an image of Jesus prominently placed over the Chalk gate, the ceremonial entrance to the Great palace of Constantinople. The imperial legislation barred the production and use of figural images. The only acceptable image was the cross. Iconoclasm usually tends to happen because there is conflict of powers between the state and church.

Iconoclasm also happens in War. After world War two the Soviet Union destroyed statues and monuments that had any association with the Nazi party. Another case was the entry of American forces into Baghdad in 2003 this immediately followed the toppling of the statue of Saddam at Firdos Square.

icons are created to be admired. They are admired because they were important enough to have art created after them but in conflicts between powers there will exist a strain where these icons must be destroyed in order for power to be recognized