The nimbus (halo) in Latin means “cloud”, “cloud” (nimbus) and is a brightly shining circle above your head. In shape, it can be different: triangular, round, hexagonal. But here a distinctive feature of the images of Jesus Christ is a round (baptized) halo in which the cross is inscribed.
Although his images are most often found on Christian or Catholic icons, as well as paintings where there are saints, still the history of its origin goes back to ancient times. Painted halo illuminating the heads of people have been found over the centuries in various cultures - ancient Greek, Byzantine, Muslim, Christian. In the East, the luminous halo around the forehead always symbolized the reward for a righteous life and meant Enlightenment.
Nimbus overhead: a history of origin
There is not one, but several versions regarding how such a symbol of holiness, like a halo, appeared. According to some scholars, it was preceded by a Greek meniscus - a metal circle that was located around the heads of statues in order to protect them from birds and bad weather. Other experts claim that the halo around the head arose as a consequence of the tradition, according to which a shield was placed on the backs of the heroes.
The most prudent interpretation is still considered Greek, based on mythology. According to ancient legends, the Olympic gods often appeared to people in human form. From them came a clear dazzling light related to the radiant ether, the above-ground atmosphere, the habitat of the gods. It follows that the glow is a sign of belonging to the gods. A little later, ordinary mortals, who had the honor of becoming one level with the heavenly representatives, began to receive it. Over time, the divine glow was slightly reduced, and only a luminous halo above the head was applied to the images. Later, this symbol of holiness was borrowed from the Greeks by Christians, Egyptians, Romans and Buddhists.
Distinctive features
Among Christians, the halo around the head is still a sign of the Holy Trinity, Our Lady, angels and saints. But on the icons it can be depicted in different ways. For example, in the face of God the Father, the halo above the head has a triangular shape or the appearance of a six-pointed star. Also in the image of a dove with a triangular halo, the Holy Spirit can also be depicted. As for the Savior of Christ, he is painted a glow in which the cross is inscribed. Jesus may also have a halo, where instead of a cross, three lines of light or a beam of rays radiating outward from the center of the disk are depicted.
The nimbus of the Virgin is round in shape and is decorated with twelve stars, a radiant crown or a diadem. Angels, martyrs, apostles and saints are depicted with round golden halos around their heads. Patriarchs and prophets usually have a silver glow color.
There are certain differences between the images of the halo of Orthodox and Catholic icon painting. In the Christian tradition, a divine halo is drawn around the entire head, and with Catholics above it in the form of a circle.
What do the halo symbolize over the saints?
Nimbus, or the solar corona, is considered a sign of a perfect person, a confirmation of his special psychic power. Most often pay attention to the aura of superpersonality in the head. This zone of light in the form of a triangle, square or circle speaks of the emanations of the soul, the spiritual energy of saints or divine persons.
Initially, the luminous halo around the head was compared with the solar disk and was considered a manifestation of the power of the sun, an attribute of its gods. In eastern iconography, solar deities were identified this way. The nimbus above his head spoke of endowed power, power, or spiritual strength. In secular iconography, the crown was such an attribute.
The luminous halo sometimes acted as an attribute of the Phoenix, which is a symbol of immortality. In some drawings of the halo, Satan also has, for example, in Byzantine art. This made it clear that he was also endowed with power.
Color and shape
The golden halo usually represented Christian art; among the Hindus it is red, among the ancient gods it is blue. In some cases, there was a rainbow.
The round halo (halo) in Byzantine art was a distinctive sign of the dead, who during their life were of high morality, and the mercy of heaven descended on them. For example, Virgin Mary is always depicted with a round and often exquisitely decorated halo around her head. Divine persons and holy nimbuses are similar, but without ornaments.
A cross inside a circle or a cruciform halo is a specific symbol that characterizes the Atonement and Crucifixion of Christ. But the halo in the form of an ellipse speaks of spiritual light.
A hexagonal or square halo indicates a saint among the living or an ordinary person, but, for example, a donor. Here the square is considered the lowest and serves as a symbol of the earth, but the circle, in turn, is a sign of eternal life, of heaven. The square halo is still interpreted as follows: its three sides are the Trinity, and one is the whole, the head.
The triangular halo is a sign of the Holy Trinity, or the Triune God. A halo shaped like a triangle or rhombus is depicted on the icons of God the Father.
Polygonal halo has always been used to portray people who are famous for their virtue, or other allegorical figures. The hexagonal halo spoke of great virtues or, again, emphasized the allegorical nature of the icon-painting. The double aspect of the deity made clear the double halo or rays.
What is the difference between the halo of different religions?
It is very informative and interesting to know what the halo above the head of the saints of different religious denominations mean. Buddha, for example, has a halo of red and shows the dynamism of solar activity. In Hinduism, Shiva has a flame rim, symbolizing the Cosmos. Among the Persians, a luminous halo spoke of the power of Ahura Mazda. In ancient and Asian art, halo was a favorite means of transmitting the greatness of kings, rulers, and deified on money coins of Roman emperors. In Mithraism, the halo is a pointer to the light of the Sun, as well as to Mithra as his god. Psychology designates the halo around the head as follows: this is a solar crown.
Nimbus in Christianity
It is believed that the halo came to Christianity from the iconography of Mithraism, which was originally squeezed out of the Roman Empire by it. It was borrowed from the images of the rulers and pagan gods of the Sun. It is believed that the halo on the head of the saints first appeared in the Roman catacombs of Calixte in the II century. They crowned the head of Christ, then in the same way identified the special divine status of Mary and the angels.