Images of Mary, mother of Jesus are often surrounded by an aureole, as in this image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe, also called the Virgin of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Virgen de Guadalupe is a 16th century Roman Catholic Mexican

The Buddha (with the legend "BODDO" in Greek script) with an aureole enveloping the whole body, on a coin of the Kushan king Kanishka, 2nd century AD. The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 Kanishka (Kushan language Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽 was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an empire extending

An aureola or aureole (diminutive of Latin aurea, "golden") is the radiance of luminous cloud which, in paintings of sacred personages, surrounds the whole figure. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Painting (pān'tīng in Art, is the practice of applying Color to a Surface (support base such as e In the earliest periods of Christian art this splendour was confined to the figures of the persons of the Christian Godhead, but it was afterwards extended to the Virgin Mary and to several of the saints. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual The term "Godhead" The term Godhead is a term denoting deity or divinity This ecumenical article is about general Christian views on and veneration of the Virgin Mary A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity

Russian icon of the Transfiguration. General history The use and making of Icons entered Kievan Rus' following its conversion to Orthodox Christianity in 988 A Jesus is shown surrounded by a light blue aureola with white flashes of lightling (15th century, attributed to Theophanes the Greek, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow). Theophanes the Greek (sometimes "Feofan Grek" from the Феофан Грек Greek: Θεοφάνης c The State Tretyakov Gallery (Государственная Третьяковская Галерея ГТГ in Moscow, Russia, is the foremost depository Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of

The aureola, when enveloping the whole body, generally appears oval or elliptical in form, but occasionally circular or quatrefoil. With regard to living things, a body is the integral physical material of an individual In Mathematics, an ellipse (from the Greek ἔλλειψις literally absence) is a Conic section, the locus of points in a The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves" and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts When it appears merely as a luminous disk round the head, it is called specifically a halo or nimbus, while the combination of nimbus and aureole is called a glory. In Geometry, a disk (also spelled disc) is the region in a plane bounded by a Circle. In Anatomy, the head of an Animal is the Rostral part (from Anatomical position that usually comprises the Brain, Eyes A halo (ἅλως also known as a nimbus, Aureole, glory, or gloriole) is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art A glory is an optical phenomenon appearing much like an iconic Saint 's halo about the head of the observer which is produced by light Backscattered (a combination The strict distinction between nimbus and aureole is not commonly maintained, and the latter term is most frequently used to denote the radiance round the heads of saints, angels or Persons of the Trinity. An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных

This is not to be confused with the specific motif in art of the Infant Jesus appearing to be a source of light in a Nativity scene. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Nativity of Jesus has been a major subject of Christian art since the 4th century These depictions derive directly from the accounts given by Saint Bridget of Sweden of her visions, in which she describes seeing this. Saint Birgitta, also known as Santa Brigida or St Bridgid of Sweden and Birgitta of Vadstena, born Birgitta Birgersdottir ( 1303 ^[1]

The nimbus in Christian art first appeared in the 5th century, but practically the same motif was known from several centuries earlier, in pre-Christian Hellenistic art. The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in Anno Domini / Common Era. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. It is found in some Persian representations of kings and gods, and appears on coins of the Kushan kings Kanishka, Huvishka and Vasudeva, as well as on most representations of the Buddha in Greco-Buddhist art from the 1st century AD. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 Kanishka (Kushan language Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽 was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an empire extending Huvishka (Kushan Οοηϸκι, "Ooishki" was a Kushan emperor from the death of Kanishka (assumed on the best evidence available to be in 140 For the Kushan king see Vasudeva I. For the book by Narendra Kohli see Vasudeva (book. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Greco-Buddhist art is the artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural Syncretism between the Classical Greek culture and Buddhism Its use has also been traced through the Egyptians to the ancient Greeks and Romans, representations of Trajan (arch of Constantine) and Antoninus Pius (reverse of a medal) being found with it. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan ( September 18 53 &ndash August 9 117) was a Roman Emperor who The Arch of Constantine (Italian Arco di Costantino is a Triumphal arch in Rome, situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius Roman emperors were sometimes depicted wearing a radiant crown, with pointed rays intended to represent the rays of the sun. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC

In the circular form the nimbus constitutes a natural and even primitive use of the idea of a crown, modified by an equally simple idea of the emanation of light from the head of a superior being, or by the meteorological phenomenon of a halo. A crown is the traditional Symbolic form of Headgear worn by a Monarch or by a Deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power Light, or visible light, is Electromagnetic radiation of a Wavelength that is visible to the Human eye (about 400–700 A halo (ἅλως also known as a nimbus, icebow or Gloriole) is an Optical phenomenon that appears near or around the Sun or The probability is that all later associations with the symbol refer back to an early astrological origin (compare Mithras), the person so glorified being identified with the sun and represented in the sun's image; so the aureole is the Hvareno of Mazdaism. The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ^[2][3] From this early astrological use, the form of "glory" or "nimbus" has been adapted or inherited under new beliefs. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems

Mandorla

Christ in Majesty shown within a mandorla shape in a medieval illuminated manuscript. Christ in Majesty, or Christ in Glory, in Latin Majestas Domini, is the Western Christian image of Christ seated on a throne as ruler of the world always An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and

A Mandorla is a Vesica Piscis shaped aureola which surrounds the figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary in traditional Christian art. The vesica piscis is a Shape which is the intersection of two Circles with the same radius intersecting in such a way that the center of each circle lies on the circumference ^[4] It is especially used to frame the figure of Christ in Majesty in early medieval and Romanesque art, as well as Byzantine art of the same periods. Christ in Majesty, or Christ in Glory, in Latin Majestas Domini, is the Western Christian image of Christ seated on a throne as ruler of the world always Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later depending on region Byzantine art is the term commonly used to describe the artistic products of the Byzantine Empire from about the 4th century until the Fall of Constantinople The term refers to the almond like shape: "mandorla" means almond nut in Italian. The Almond ( Prunus dulcis, syn Prunus amygdalus Batsch Amygdalus communis L In icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the mandorla is used to depict sacred moments which transcend time and space, such as the Resurrection, Transfiguration, and the Dormition of the Theotokos. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Within the body of Christian beliefs the resurrection of Jesus is a core event on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported by the Synoptic Gospels in which Jesus is transfigured upon a mountain (,) The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and These mandorla will often be painted in several concentric patterns of color which grow darker as they come close to the center. This is in keeping with the church's use of Apophatic theology, as described by Dionysius the Areopagite and others. Negative theology - also known as the Via Negativa ( Latin for "Negative Way" and Apophatic theology - is a Theology that Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, also known as Pseudo-Denys, is the anonymous theologian and philosopher of the late 5th to early 6th century whose Corpus Areopagiticum As holiness increases, there is no way to depict its brightness, except by darkness.

The symbol is also used in non-Christian contexts. In various religions the almond seed has been associated with divine virgin birth. For instance the virgin nymph Nana miraculously conceived of Attis by putting a ripe almond in her bosom. According to Greek mythology Nana was a Nymph of Sangarius, a river located in present-day Turkey. Attis (sometimes written as "Atys" was Cybele 's lover Eunuch attendant and driver of her lion-driven chariot ^[5] [1]

In a famous romanesque fresco of Christ in Glory at Sant Climent de Taüll the inscription "Ego Sum Lux Mundi" is incorporated in the Mandorla design. Sant Climent de Taüll is a church in the town of Taüll, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. [2]

Christ in majesty in a mandorla, surrounded by emblems of the evangelists: ivory plaques on a wooden coffret, Cologne, first half of the 13th century (Musée de Cluny)

The tympanum at Conques has Christ, with one of those beautiful gestures carved in romanesque sculpture, indicate the angels at his feet bearing candlesticks. Maestà, the Italian word for "majesty" designates an iconic formula of the enthroned Madonna with the child Jesus, whether or not accompanied The Musée de Cluny, officially known as Musée National du Moyen Âge, is a Museum in Paris, France. Conques ( Concas in Occitan) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southwestern France. Six surrounding stars, resembling blossoming flowers, indicate the known planets including the moon. Here the symbolism implies Christ as the Sun. "Sun god" redirects here For the Ramsey Lewis album see Sun Goddess (album. [3]

In one special case, at Cervon (Nièvre), Christ is seated surrounded by eight stars, resembling blossoming flowers. Nièvre is a department in the center of France named after the Nièvre River. [4] At Conques the flowers are six-petalled. At Cervon, where the almond motif is repeated in the rim of the mandorla, they are five-petalled, as are almond flowers -the first flowers to appear at the end of winter, even before the leaves of the almond tree. Here one is tempted to seek for reference in the symbolism of the nine branched Chanukkiyah candelabrum. Hanukkah Menorah ( Hebrew: מנורה menorah) (also חַנֻכִּיָּה Hanukiah, or Chanukkiyah, pl It should be remembered that in the XII century a great school of Judaic thought radiated from Narbonne, coinciding with the origins of the Kabbalah. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. ^[6] Furthermore, at Cervon the eight star/flower only is six petalled: the Root of David, the Morningstar, mentioned at the close of Book of Revelation (22:16) [5] ( In one of the oldest manuscripts of the complete Hebrew Bible, the Leningrad Codex, one finds the Star of David imbedded in an octagon )

In the symbolism of Hildegarde von Bingen the mandorla refers to the Cosmos. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic The Leningrad Codex (or Codex Leningradensis) is one of the oldest manuscripts of the complete Hebrew Bible produced according to the Tiberian mesorah; The Star of David or Shield of David ( Magen David in Hebrew with nikkud or מגן דוד without academically transcribed Māḡēn Dāwīḏ by Hildegard of Bingen (Hildegard von Bingen Hildegardis Bingensis 1098 – 17 September 1179) also known as Blessed Hildegard and Saint Hildegard In its most general sense a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system ^[7]

See also

• Aura
• Halo
• Crown of Immortality
• Glory (optical phenomenon)
• Heiligenschein

References

1. ^ G Schiller, Iconography of Christian Art, Vol. In Parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice an aura is a field of subtle luminous radiation surrounding a person or object like the Halo or A halo (ἅλως also known as a nimbus, Aureole, glory, or gloriole) is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art The Crown of Immortality is a literary and religious metaphor that developed visual representations initially as a Laurel wreath, and later as a symbolic Circle A glory is an optical phenomenon appearing much like an iconic Saint 's halo about the head of the observer which is produced by light Backscattered (a combination Heiligenschein ( German for " Aureole " or " halo " literally "Saint's shine" is an Optical phenomenon which I,1971 (English trans from German), Lund Humphries, London, pp. 76-78 & figs, ISBN 853312702
2. ^ Ramsden, E. H. (1941). "The Halo: A Further Enquiry into Its Origin". The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs Vol. 78 (No. 45): , p. 131. The Burlington Magazine Publications, Ltd. . ISSN 09510788.  
3. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, 14th Edition, Vol. The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc 15. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., p 620. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc is an American company best known for publishing the Encyclopædia Britannica, the world's oldest continuously-published  
4. ^ Liungman, Carl G. (1991). Dictionary of Symbols. W. W. Norton, p 287. ISBN 0-393-31236-4.  
5. ^ Frazer, James G. (1922). The Golden Bough. The Golden Bough A Study in Magic and Religion is a wide-ranging comparative study of Mythology and Religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir Macmillan Publishing Company, p 403. ISBN 0-02-095570-7.  
6. ^ Scholem, Gershom (1990). Gerschom Scholem ( December 5, 1897 &ndash February 21, 1982) also known as Gerhard Scholem, was a Jewish philosopher and Origins of the Kabbalah. Princeton Paperback.  
7. ^ Riedel, Ingrid (1994). Hildegard von Bingen, Prophetin der kosmischen Weisheit. Kreuz Verlag, Zürich.  

• Timmers J. J. M. A Handbook of Romanesque Art New York London 1969 Icon Editions, Harper and Row
• Gérard de Champéaux, Dom Sébastièn Sterckx o. s. b. Symboles, introduction à la nuit des temps 3, Paris 1966 ed. Zodiaque (printed: Cum Permissu Superiorum)
• Brian Young The Villein's Bible; stories in romanesque carving London 1990 Barry & Jenkins
• Roger Cook The Tree of Life: Image for the Cosmos New York 1974 Avon Books