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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaHoly Monastery of Saint John, Apostle Luke’s School of Iconography
Byzantine Iconography Symbolism
Icon of Christ being tempted in the desert
The Holy Fathers depicted the visible and the invisible in iconography abstractly, using the
Symbolic Language of Byzantine Iconography.
How do we depict Christ in an icon? An example of the Symbolic Language
CONSIDER EARTH
Earth has a visible component (what we see around us and from space), but also an invisible component (its magnetic field).
SO…
How do we show the visible (human) and the invisible (divine) in iconography, two components which are inseparable in the person of Jesus Christ?
TRUTH
Christ was tempted just like
us, Adam and Eve. So he does have a human
nature.
POINT OF VIEW
The reverse perspective of
buildings, mountains etc.
guides the eyes to the focal point in
the icon.
SIZE OF FIGURESThe Tempter is always shown as a small figure so as to calm us during
prayer and to show that Christ has defeated him.
HISTORICAL FACTS
Christ was tempted three times in the desert after his 40 day fast (Gospel of
Matthew).
COLOURS
Christ wears clothes of Red and Blue
representing His two natures. Red
symbolizes His Human and blue the
Divine nature
NO SHADOWS
The light does not come from the sun, but from within, i.e. from the Holy Spirit dwelling in the person or object.
PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL
When the tempter saw that Christ was hungry after his 40-day fast, he told him to turn these stones into bread. Christ replied: “Man does not live on bread alone…” (Mathew 4:1-11).
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