In the plastic arts (painting and sculpture) the symbolism of the nimbus
was early in use among the pagans who determined its form. In the monuments
of Hellenic and Roman art, the heads of the gods, heroes, and other
distinguished persons are often found with a disc-shaped halo, a circle of
light, or a rayed-fillet. They are, therefore, associated especially with
gods and creatures of light such as the Phoenix. The disc of light is
likewise used in the Pompeian wall paintings to typify gods and demigods
only, but later, in profane art it was extended to cherubs or even simple
personifications, and is simply a reminder that the figures so depicted are
not human. In the miniatures of the oldest Virgil manuscript all the great
personages wear a nimbus. The custom of the Egyptian and Syrian kings of
having themselves represented with a rayed crown to indicate the status of
demigods, spread throughout the East and the West. In Rome the halo was
first used only for deceased emperors as a sign of celestial bliss, but
afterwards living rulers also were given the rayed crown, and after the
third century, although not first by Constantine, the simple rayed nimbus.
Under Constantine the rayed crown appears only in exceptional cases on the
coin, and was first adopted emblematically by Julian the Apostate.
Henceforth the nimbus appears without rays, as the emperors now wished
themselves considered worthy of great honour, but no longer as divine
beings. In early Christian art, the rayed nimbus as well as the rayless disc
were adopted in accordance with tradition. The sun and the Phoenix received,
as in pagan art, a wreath or a rayed crown, also the simple halo. The latter
was reserved not only for emperors but for men of genius and
personifications of all kinds, although both in ecclesiastical and profane
art, this emblem was usually omitted in ideal figures. In other cases the
influence of ancient art tradition must not be denied.
drill, a set of instructions for how to build a crucifix, and a mirror. South Korean police investigators determined the mirror was set up so that the man, identified only with the surname Kim, could see himself hanging on the cross.
