An iconoclast originally referred to a person who destroyed icons, that is, sacred paintings or sculpture. An example is Byzantine emperor Leo III, who ordered the destruction of all icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints in his empire. For more discussion of historical iconoclasts, see iconoclasm. The Savior (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek , eikon, image) is an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it, or by analogy, as in semiotics; in computers an icon is a symbol on the monitor... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... Leo III (disambiguation). ... Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity, most of the adherents of which worship him as the Messiah, son of God, and God incarnate. ... Gabriel delivering the Annunciation to Mary. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... Illustration of the Beeldenstorm during the Dutch reformation Literally, iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other sacred images or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. ...

The more common meaning in current usage is that an iconoclast is a person who carries out symbolic or quixotic acts of protest against authority figures, the connotation being that the iconoclast opposes the imposition of authority itself rather than any particular policy or action. Statues of Don Quixote (left) and Sancho Panza (right) This page is about the fictional character and novel. ... In politics, authority generally refers to the ability to make laws, independent of the power to enforce them, or the ability to permit something. ...

The term may also refer to a person who reacts against popular culture or ideals.

See also

• iconoclasm
• reactionary