The deliberate destruction of religious icons (statues and relics) thought to offend.

A heresy that opposes the religious use of images. In the eighth and ninth centuries it disturbed the peace of the Eastern Church, caused the last of the many breaches with Rome that prepared the way for the schism of Photius.

literally, the 'breaking' of icons; used generally, 'iconoclasm' denotes an attitude of disapproval of the human form in religious painting. In more specific terms, however, 'Iconoclasm' denotes the period between 730 and 787 and again from 815 to 842, when images depicting saints, Christ and Mary were banned from churches or destroyed.

the orientation of an iconoclast

The doctrine or practice of opposing and destroying existing or traditional pictorial systems or styles.

the breaking or destroying of images, especially the destruction of images and pictures set up as objects of veneration. The Puritans were opposed to all aspects of what they considered "popery," including the use of religious icons, statues, or other types of art. During some of the revivals of faith in 18th and 19th centuries, people smashed the faces off of soul effigies on gravestones to demonstrate their disapproval of any type of religious art.

Iconoclasts believed that veneration of icons was idol worship, so icons should be destroyed. Iconoclasm was the destruction of images, or at least covering with whitewash, in the case of frescoes and mosaics. The Iconoclastic controversy was a dominant force in the Greek Church from the end of the seventh century until 842. Return to Theme

Religious controversy within the Byzantine Empire in the 8th century; emperor attempted to suppress veneration of icons; literally "breaking of images"; after long struggle, icon veneration was restored. (p. 361)

(Gr., "breaking of images"): movement against religious images occurring during the eighth and ninth centuries. The iconoclasts rejected the sanctity of icons and outlawed their veneration. The periods of iconoclasm were 730–87 and 814–843.

Iconoclasm is the deliberate destruction within a culture of the culture's own religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. It is a frequent component of major political or religious changes. It is thus generally distinguished from the destruction by one culture of the images of another, for example by the Spanish in their American conquests.