What's in a Word?
Ancient Greek Concepts in Modern Language

Icon

from Greek eikon, image

In its most general sense, the term icon is simply a synonym for image. The word has found its application in a diversity of specialised group-jargons that range from orthodox Christians to art-historians to computer users.

• To a Christian of the Greek and Eastern Orthodox Churches, an icon is a sacred painting, mosaic or relief depicting Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, an angel or a saint. Such works of religious art are often adorned and simultaneously protected by a so-called oklad (Greek) or riza (Russian), traditionally made from gold or silver.
• To art-historians, art-dealers and students of comparative religion, the term is not culturally bound and has led to expressions such as Egyptian iconography or Hindu iconography, referring to all depictions of deities and their given symbols.
• In the context of computers, an icon is a small digital image displayed on the monitor with the aim of identifying a certain file or program, or a sign that invites a possible mouse-action. The very l atest type of icon is the so-called shortcut icon or favicon (favourite icon) that visually identifies a website within a browser.