David W
To cover their bald spots.... wish I had one!

Harold BSc Immunology 3rd year.
Saintly?

Lukusmcain//
You have answered your own question. All christian symbology has pagan roots. So nothing is unique about christianity.

"Wee" Joe Citizen
You're so damned smart, you already answered your question. It's very condescending of you. You disagree with Catholicism?... Fine. Your own religion is no less ridiculous. You actually believe there is such a thing as "demon"?? C'mon.

Val
Suprisingly enough back then they knew we all have an electromagnetic engery field, some call an aura. When one reaches sainthood it gets much brighter and becomes visible to the naked eye. This is represented by a halo. The fact we don't see this on people very often just goes to show how few are truely saint like.

the Truth
i don't think they need a reason for that, it's just art as you called it. the real problem is why do people like you think these characters are sacred?

Matthew
Halos can be seen adorning the heads of statues of Persian, Hindu, and Egyptian deities. It symbolizes the deification of dead heroes and astrological gods. It has no place in the Christian Church. The Roman Catholic Church has absorbed many pagan practices.

Monica P
so people could tell who was good The Catholic church spawned thousands of Christ based religions so they have pagan origins too

Gattaca Kain
I am not aware of any evidence that the Catholic Church denies that it has been influenced by paganism. Given this, if it is true that halos have pagan origins, then the Catholic Church would have no problem pointing this out. Christianizing a pagan practice has no impact on the truth of Catholicism anymore than playing cricket in the U.S. threatens the constitution. A halo is merely a symbol reflecting one's holiness, much like a wedding ring symbolizes a married couple's commitment (which also has pagan origins).

▒Ðan†ès
Halos and disk appear in many other ancient artworks as well. I'm thinking it signifies some sort of positional stature of authority. In religious artwork possibly having something to do with "sainthood" since such status is considered an "office" albeit a "spiritual one."

DR. THEO
Here is your answer......“Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated life in the theology and liturgy of the Church; the Greek language, having reigned for centuries over philosophy, became the vehicle of Christian literature and ritual; the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other pagan cultures contributed to the syncretist result. From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity… and a personal immortality of reward and punishment; from Egypt the adoration of the Mother and Child, and the mystic theosophy that made Neoplatonism and Gnosticism, and obscured the Christian creed; there, too, Christian monasticism would find its exemplars and its source. From Phrygia came the worship of the Great Mother; from Syria the resurrection drama of Adonis; from Thrace, perhaps, the cult of Dionysus, the dying and saving god.… The Mithraic ritual so closely resembled the eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass that Christian fathers charged the Devil with inventing these similarities to mislead frail minds. Christianity was the last great creation of the ancient pagan world.… [The Eucharist] was a conception long sanctified by time; the pagan mind needed no schooling to receive it; by embodying the ‘mystery of the Mass,’ Christianity became the last and greatest of the mystery religions” (The Story of Civilization, Vol. 5, Durant, pp. 595, 599).

Poos P
Artists simply use halos as way to illustrate a saint's holiness

DougLawrence
The "Glory of the Lord" known as "Shekinah" in the Old Testament, literally transformed Moses' physical appearance after he spent 40 days and nights in the presence of God, on top of Mt. Sinai. At the transfiguration, in New Testament times, a similar brightness was reported. This supernatural reflection of God's brightness of being is the inspiration for the halo. The halo also makes it easy to identify the "holy" person in a picture that might contain several different figures.

cristoiglesia
I am not an art expert but I do know that throughout the ancient world the divine or in the case of Christian art especially blessed and were believed the light of humanity. Those creating Christian art desiring for this same theme to be propagated used the same technique to depict their subjects as admirable or special in God's eyes. Christian artists usually saw their work as a ministry and it was meant to draw people to the Church by depicting those that humanity should embrace. As is sometimes said, preach the Gospel and use words if necessary. I see no Pagan connection to Christianity except that the styles of art continued among all groups. It does not show any connection to Paganism but just similar practices that would not be unusual for competing faith groups. God bless! In Christ Fr. Joseph

Clare, OCC, SFECU
Nit-pick much? Very simply, the halos symbolize holiness. Not much of a student of art history, are you?

cam
Thats a really good question, i studied art bu ti have to admit i stayed away from the renaisance period, i think thats where some of it was used. The catholic church was obviously quite dominant in that period, its influence on the artworld was and still is huge. They had no problem stamping there views or making there mark. i suppose they were making history. Art through history is quite a fantastic journey anyway, i should study again but to answer your question, i have no idea what it means, whta it symbolises is obviously more than some of the other replies suggest. i dont think you answeres your own question, i think there is more than that. Hopefully there is more to it than saying it represents the holy spirit. its an interesting shape to use. i never realy studied symbolism, not classic, i made my own at uni. cool question, nice one. very interesting.

Kevin S, SFCU - VOTE OUT fundies
It's really cute how you obviously work overtime to pack as much anti-Catholicism into one question as you possibly can. I can practically hear you seething.

Dogma - SFECU - Vote out Bigots
Anti-Catholic much? I'm not surprised, as I see you went to the University of Mobile. You don't get much more anti-Catholic than that. I bet you went to Faith Academy as well. Are you one of the ones who would openly tell my Catholic husband he's going to Hell? He's told me many a horror story about that Bigot Factory.

Annsan_In_Him
The entirely Catholic Sister Wendy, who had a BBC documentary series on art based on her book writes: "The halo as a symbol of divinity was originally attributed to the sun gods Apollo, Mithras and Helios, and signified the sun's radiance and power. It first appeared in Christian art in the 4th century" She uncritically acknowledges the loveliness of the later Northern Renaissance movement (beginning of the 15th century) where the sacred was brought down to earth. Real life domesticities were portrayed alongside the unromantic realities of life. "A puny newborn Christ is painted alongside a sullen midwife, coarse shepherds, and a cow in its rickety stable. Yet everything is solid, lovely, true, and despite its realism, all is pervsaded by a deep though unselfconscious faith." Not a halo in sight! The nearest to that is a wickerwork firescreen behind the Virgin's head. "By tradition, International Gothic style indicated holiness with a golden circle." The Catholic Church long ago decided it would thumb a snoot at paganism by absorbing it. It would triumph over it by diluting it and emasculating it of its uniqueness. I'm not a Catholic, so I will add that Christians shouldn't touch raw paganism with a barge-pole. However, I have no qualms at wearing a wedding ring. Do you?

Tai F
to my knowledge a halo represents good and purity of one's soul

http://www.bible-reviews.com
I would guess that the official Roman Catholic position is that it is a practice adopted from classical art used to depict ancient sun deities. Understand: the use of this art form does not mean that they have "pagan origins" - so why would they deny the source of that art form? It turns out this is accurate Jim,