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Religious Iconoclism In Byzantium

332 Words2 Pages
Not only was the inherent power of images recognized in this period, it was also mobilized in particular ways, specifically in the discourse of theology. The iconoclastic debate centered on the appropriate use of icons in religious veneration, and the precise relationship between the sacred personage and his/her image (Brook 2001). Given the newfound significance of images, it was feared that the viewer would misdirect their worship toward the image, rather than toward the holy person represented in the image. This fear, in conjunction with the scriptural prohibition against worshipping graven images (Exodus 20:4) fueled much of the religious iconoclasm in Byzantium. The iconoclastic history of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now Istanbul),
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