Who started religious figures being depicted with a halo and/or a bright light from above, and why?

Question

I just want to know if the halo is similar to what many call an "Aura", and if the bright light from above is similar to the "white light" many have witnessed in near death experiences.

Answer 1

Most of Christendom’s icons portray a circle of light around the heads of Jesus, Mary, angels, and “saints.” This is called a halo. Where did the halo originate? “Its origin was not Christian,” admits The Catholic Encyclopedia (1987 edition), “for it was used by pagan artists and sculptors to represent in symbol the great dignity and power of the various deities.” Furthermore, the book The Christians, by Bamber Gascoigne, contains a photograph obtained from the Capitoline Museum in Rome of a sun-god with halo. This god was worshiped by pagan Romans. Later, explains Gascoigne, “the sun’s halo” was “borrowed by Christianity.” Yes, the halo is connected with pagan sun worship.

Then with regard to pictures of Jesus Christ, do you notice any halo or circle of light encompassing his head? This is called a “nimbus.” You will find it revealing to go to a good encyclopedia and look up the word “nimbus,” for you will learn that it was used by the ancient pagan Egyptians, Greeks and Romans in their religious art; such a symbol is of Babylonish origin, since it appears in artistic representations of the main deities of Babylon. The circle of light was the symbol of the sun-god, and thus it is paganism.

In time, this pagan influence became still more pronounced. “Jesus,” the book adds, “could be easily identified with the familiar deities of the Mediterranean world, especially Helios (Apollo), the sun god [whose halo was later given to Jesus and then to the “saints”], or his romanized eastern aspect, Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun).” In a mausoleum discovered beneath St. Peter’s in Rome, Jesus is actually portrayed as Apollo “driving the horses of the sun-chariot through the heavens.”

The New Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges: “The most common attribute, applied to all saints, is the nimbus (cloud), a luminous defined shape surrounding the head of the saint. Its origins are pre-Christian, and examples are found in Hellenistic art of pagan inspiration; the halo was used, as evidenced in mosaics and coins, for demigods and divinities such as Neptune, Jupiter, Bacchus, and in particular Apollo (god of the sun).”—(1967), Vol. XII, p. 963.

The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “In Hellenistic and Roman art the sun-god Helios and Roman emperors often appear with a crown of rays. Because of its pagan origin, the form was avoided in Early Christian art, but a simple circular nimbus was adopted by Christian emperors for their official portraits. From the middle of the 4th century, Christ was also shown with this imperial attribute . . . it was not until the 6th century that the halo became customary for the Virgin Mary and other saints.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. IV, p. 864.


I hope this helps.

.

Answer 2

From what research I have done, yes, the Halo is another interpretation of the Aura, or the energetic field that surrounds all living things (and some inanimate objects as well, if handles enough by others, they keep an energetic charge, or memory as well) and as gold is seen as a pure and spiritual color when it comes to auras, then this would have overlapped nicely with the Halo theme. I am not sure who started it however, but I will be checking your thread later for the answer. Good question!

Answer 3

Well, if you mean here on R&S, I hope I do. I know my grammar and spelling are bad (almost wrote is), but it is the message one is trying to convey that is important. True, grammar and spelling help get the point across easier and make it easier to be taken seriously. Spell check does not work all the time and sometimes I try to cut and paste for the reasons above. Yet I can get pressed for time and just write as best I can so the person can recieve a good answer which should not be confused with a scholarly work. My Father, who only has a 6th grade education, can barely write and yet when he does I do not write him back or correct him. He deserves respect and is quite smart on spiritual matters and other areas as well. Plus there are few pieces of equipment he cannot operate. We of the College set could learn from his example. Only a fool passes up knowledge because of grammar and spelling.

Answer 4

The answer by "TEEM" which discusses the "nimbus" concept is exactly right. Ostensible "Christians" sometimes defend the pagan convention of depicting "saints" with halos by pretending that the bible term "crown" refers to a halo.

(1 Corinthians 9:25) Moreover, every man taking part in a contest exercises self-control in all things. Now they, of course, do it that they may get a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.

(Revelation 2:10) Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.


But these crowns are plainly given to the recipient AFTER his death and resurrection to heavenly life. Even ignoring this fact for the moment, examine carefully any painting of a so-called "saint" and ask yourself if his halo more closely resembles a Christian crown or a pagan nimbus.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050508a/article_01.htm

Answer 5

John P and TeeM have both got the right information. It also supports the information I have regarding the change from the Seventh day of the week to the First day of the week as a day of worship.

Answer 6

The 1st time I think it is mentioned is when Moses returned from meeting with God on Mount Sinai. (He had put a veil over his face from the glory of God shining from him)
I Cor ch 3 (I think)

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure it was the Romans, adopting the sun god, to their new religion of Christianity back in the day.