Icon: Difference between revisions

In addition to the original sense of the word, there are also the following:

• In computer jargon, an icon is a tiny, clickable picture used to provide astartup link to a program or a files.
• The Icon programming language.

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In religious art, an icon (also spelled ikon, from the Greek word eikon, which means "image") is an artistic representation or symbol of anything considered holy and divine, such as paintings (including relief paintings), sculpture, or mosaics, sometimes quite small in size, generally regarded by their users as a physical manifestations of the thing represented. Icons are used particularly in Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern-rite Catholic churches and places of worship. In such use, they are typically paintings on wood. Many religious homes in Russia, for example, have icons hanging on the wall. There is a rich history and rich patterns of religious symbolism associated with icons. The Orthodox sometimes call them "windows into heaven". In Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern-rite Catholic churches, the nave is typically separated from the sanctuary by a wall of icons called an iconostasis.

In practice, icons are often illuminated with a candle or jar of oil with a wick. (Beeswax for candles and olive oil for oil lamps are preferred because they burn very cleanly.) Besides the practical purpose of making them visible in an otherwise dark church in the days before electricity, this symbolically indicates that the saint(s) depicted are illuminated by the Christ, the Light of the World. Orthodox Christians venerate or show honor and respect for icons in a variety of ways, in order to show honor and respect for the people and events depicted. They do not worship icons, for worship of icons was forbidden by the same council that defended their use, the Second Council of Nicaea (also known as the Seventh Ecumenical Council). By venerating icons, Orthodox Christians acknowledge that matter is not inherently evil, but can be used by God. St. John of Damascus observed that iconoclasts who attacked the use of icons often found themselves denying the goodness of matter to such an extent, that they wound up doubting the real incarnation of Jesus Christ as fully human, or that he was resurrected with a real physical body.

See also iconography — iconostasis

By extension from the primary sense of the word, an icon is also a name, face, picture or symbol that readily recognized by most people to represent some well-known entities or attributes. Many icons are based on famous objects or landmarks. Icons are usually culturally dependent though many are recognized internationally.

Example of well known icons, symbols and what they represent:

File:Hmrsckl.png

Hammer and sickle (former) USSR

• Alpenhorn -> Switzerland
• Balance (scale) -> Justice
• Bat -> Vampire (western), Happiness (Chinese)
• Bear -> California
• Boomerang -> Australia
• Caduceus -> Medical profession
• Cadillac -> Top of the line (in USA only)
• Cedar Tree-> Lebanon
• Cheetah -> speed
• Cherry Blossom -> Japan
• Compass rose -> Navigation
• Cowboys and Indians -> USA
• Crucifix -> Christianity
• Cupid, Heart -> Love.
• Donkey -> Democratic Party of the USA.
• Dragon -> China / Wales
• Eagle -> USA.
• Elephant -> Republican Party of the USA.
• Flags -> the associated countries.
• fleur-de-lis -> Scouts, Quebec
• Geneva cross -> ambulance, neutrality, humanitarian
• Great Wall -> China
• Grid iron -> American football
• Hammer and Sickle -> U.S.S.R (defunct)
• Hat and wand -> magic
• Horse shoe -> luck
• Igloo -> North Pole
• James Dean -> Rebellion
• Kangaroo -> Australia
• Kiwi -> New Zealand
• Liberty Bell -> USA
• lightbulb -> idea
• Lightning bolt -> Electricity, speed
• Lion -> England
• Llama -> South America
• Lotus -> Buddhism
• Marilyn Monroe -> Sex
• Maple leaf -> Canada
• Mount Fuji -> Japan
• Mount Rushmore -> USA
• Owl -> Wisdom/Education (usually in western worlds), many mean evil in other place.
• Panda -> China
• Peace symbol -> Hippies
• Penguin -> South Pole, Linux
• Pestle and Mortar -> Pharmacy
• Phallus (lingam) -> Shiva
• Pink triangle -> gay men
• Pine tree and Crane -> Longetivity (Chinese)
• Plum flower -> China
• pocket protector -> nerds
• Poinsettia -> Christmas
• Polar bear -> North Pole
• Rainbow -> Homosexual people
• Rams -> Canton, China
• Rolls Royce -> luxury, top of the line
• Saint Bernard -> rescue
• Shamrock -> Ireland, Trinity
• Shogun -> Japan
• Skull and crossbones -> Poison, Danger etc.
• Star and Crescent -> Islam
• Star of David -> Judaism
• Status of Liberty -> USA
• Swastika -> Buddhism, Nazi
• Tulips -> Netherlands
• Turkey -> Thanksgiving holiday
• Uncle Sam -> USA
• Unicorn -> Luck
• Windmills -> Netherlands
• Yin Yang symbol -> Daoism