Iconoclasm Facts for Kids

Iconoclasm is when people destroy symbols or images from their own culture. These symbols can be things like statues, paintings, or monuments. This usually happens because of strong religious or political reasons.

Iconoclasm often takes place during big changes in a society, like a major shift in religion or government. It's different from when outsiders or invaders destroy things. For example, it's not like when Spanish explorers destroyed things in America.

People who take part in or support iconoclasm are called iconoclasts. This word can also describe someone who challenges old ideas or traditions. On the other hand, people who respect or worship religious images are sometimes called idolaters. In some Christian traditions, they are known as iconodules or iconophiles.

Iconoclasm can happen between people of different religions. But it often comes from disagreements between groups within the same religion. For example, in Christianity, iconoclasm has sometimes been driven by a strict reading of the Ten Commandments. These commandments forbid making and worshipping "graven images" of God.

What is Iconoclasm?
- Why Does Iconoclasm Happen?
Famous Periods of Iconoclasm
Images for kids
See also

What is Iconoclasm?

Iconoclasm is the act of destroying images, statues, or other symbols. These items are usually important to a culture or religion. The destruction is often done by people who belong to that same culture or religion. They do it because they believe these images are wrong or harmful.

Why Does Iconoclasm Happen?

There are two main reasons why iconoclasm occurs:

Religious Reasons: Some religions or groups believe that images or statues used in worship are wrong. They might think these images lead people to worship the object itself instead of God. This idea comes from certain religious texts.
Political Reasons: Sometimes, destroying symbols is a way to show a change in power. If a new government or leader takes over, they might destroy symbols of the old rulers. This shows that the old ways are gone and new ones are in charge.

Famous Periods of Iconoclasm

Throughout history, there have been several important times when iconoclasm happened. These events often marked big changes in society.

Byzantine Iconoclasm

The Byzantine Empire saw two major periods of iconoclasm. These happened in the 8th and 9th centuries. During these times, the main argument was about whether religious images, called icons, should be used.

Some people, the iconoclasts, believed that using icons was like worshipping idols. They thought it went against God's rules.
Others, the iconodules, believed that icons helped people connect with God. They saw icons as holy and important for prayer.

This disagreement led to a lot of destruction of religious art. Eventually, the use of icons was brought back.

The Protestant Reformation

In the 16th century, a big religious movement called the Protestant Reformation swept across Europe. Many Protestants believed that Catholic churches had too many images and statues. They felt these distracted from true worship.

Statues in the Cathedral of Saint Martin in Utrecht, attacked during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

This led to widespread destruction of religious art in many parts of Europe. Churches were stripped of their paintings, statues, and stained glass. This event is sometimes called the Beeldenstorm (Dutch for "statue storm"). It showed a clear break from the old religious traditions.

Iconoclasm in Other Religions

Iconoclasm is not just a Christian event. It has happened in other religions too.

In some Islamic traditions, there is a strong belief against creating images of living beings, especially prophets or God. This has led to the destruction of idols or statues in places conquered by Muslim armies.
Hindu temples in India were sometimes destroyed by invading armies. These armies often had different religious beliefs. The destruction was sometimes done to show power or to remove symbols of the conquered religion.

Images for kids

"Triumph of Orthodoxy" over iconoclasm under the Byzantine Empress Theodora and her son Michael III. Late 14th – early 15th-century icon.
In this Elizabethan work of propaganda, the top right of the picture depicts men busy pulling down and smashing icons, while power is shifting from the dying King Henry VIII at left, pointing to his far more staunchly Protestant son, the boy-king Edward VI at centre. National Portrait Gallery, London
Amun
Saint Benedict's monks destroy an image of Apollo, worshiped in the Roman Empire
An icon of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (17th century, Novodevichy Convent, Moscow).
Triumph of Orthodoxy
Extent (in blue) of the Beeldenstorm through the Spanish Netherlands
16th-century iconoclasm in the Protestant Reformation. Relief statues in St. Stevenskerk in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, were attacked and defaced by Calvinists in the Beeldenstorm.
Looting of the Churches of Lyon by the Calvinists in 1562 by Antoine Caron.
Remains of Calvinist iconoclasm, Clocher Saint-Barthélémy, La Rochelle, France.
The Somnath Temple in Gujarat was repeatedly destroyed by Islamic armies and rebuilt by Hindus. It was destroyed by Delhi Sultanate's army in 1299 CE. The present temple was reconstructed in Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple was repeatedly destroyed by Islamic invaders such as Qutb al-Din Aibak.
Ruins of the Martand Sun Temple. The temple was destroyed on the orders of Muslim Sultan Sikandar Butshikan in the early 15th century, with demolition lasting a year.
The armies of Delhi Sultanate led by Muslim Commander Malik Kafur plundered the Meenakshi Temple and looted it of its valuables.
Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (Warangal Gate) built by the Kakatiya dynasty in ruins; one of the many temple complexes destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate.
Rani ki vav is a stepwell, built by the Chaulukya dynasty, located in Patan; the city was sacked by Sultan of Delhi Qutb-ud-din Aybak between 1200 and 1210, and it was destroyed by the Allauddin Khilji in 1298.
Artistic rendition of the Kirtistambh at Rudra Mahalaya Temple. The temple was destroyed by Alauddin Khalji.
Exterior wall reliefs at Hoysaleswara Temple. The temple was twice sacked and plundered by the Delhi Sultanate.