The Origin of the Halo on the Head of Saints

 

we read from the Aleteia Arabic website:





Rome/Aleteia (aleteia.org/ar) The origin of the halo, which is often associated with saints and comes in triangular, square, and hexagonal shapes!

In Western culture and art, we often see halos that are considered symbols that few know their actual interpretation. These golden circles, which we also see in cartoons, newspapers, movies, and even in some symbolic images, have an amazing story.

Everyone knows that the halo symbolizes holiness, and thus the virtues of the one around whose head it is. But its origin is very old and surprisingly it derives its roots from pagan culture.

We find traces of it in the eighteenth volume of the Iliad by the Greek poet Homer: “Achilles, dear to Zeus, rose; On his strong shoulders, Athena placed her fringed shield; And the great goddess surrounded the hero’s head with a golden cloud on which a brilliant flame was kindled.”

These references to this halo of light that crowns the heroes are numerous in ancient Greek literature. The depictions of these descriptions quickly began to flourish, and passed from Greek to Latin literature, and gradually the circle of light behind the head replaced the luminous halo.

An advanced mixture of several influences

In early times, the Christians did not use the halo as a symbol to distinguish saints or angels. Moreover, the rays of light were reserved for depictions of Christ. The halo was used to testify to the majesty of the last Roman emperors, as well as Roman emperors in the East, in order to demonstrate their power.

In the fourth century, the halo appeared in Christian art as an attribute of persons, and especially as a divine attribute. When God, the source of light, was depicted, he was accompanied by this luminous circle that soon came to adorn the heads of all saints.

However, saints were represented with a laurel wreath on their heads or with ordinary crowns in the early days of Christian art. Like any artistic tradition, the tradition of the halo was the fruit of an advanced mixture of several influences that had previously coexisted.

Later, other types of halos appeared. A triangle of light was used to indicate the three persons of the Trinity, and the circular halo was reserved for saints and angels. The rare and little-known square halo was intended to distinguish living persons, such as patrons of letters. Hexagonal halos were also invented exceptionally to mark virtues or allegorical images.

Over the centuries, artists became more realistic in depicting saints, and the use of the halo fell into disuse and eventually disappeared from religious depictions. Nevertheless, the halo is part of Western culture. Its symbolism is always associated with holiness. It remains a source of profound inspiration as one of the main elements in the history of art throughout the ages.


Christian source:

https://ar.aleteia.or