<P> A halo ( from Greek ἅλως , halōs ; also known as a nimbus , aureole , glory , or gloriole ) is a crown of light rays , circle or disk of light that surrounds a person in art . They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures , and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes . In the sacred art of Ancient Greece , Ancient Rome , Hinduism , Buddhism , Islam and Christianity , among other religions , sacred persons may be depicted with a halo in the form of a circular glow , or flames in Asian art , around the head or around the whole body -- this last one is often called a mandorla . Halos may be shown as almost any color or combination of colors , but are most often depicted as golden , yellow or white when representing light or red when representing flames . </P>
<P> A halo ( from Greek ἅλως , halōs ; also known as a nimbus , aureole , glory , or gloriole ) is a crown of light rays , circle or disk of light that surrounds a person in art . They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures , and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes . In the sacred art of Ancient Greece , Ancient Rome , Hinduism , Buddhism , Islam and Christianity , among other religions , sacred persons may be depicted with a halo in the form of a circular glow , or flames in Asian art , around the head or around the whole body -- this last one is often called a mandorla . Halos may be shown as almost any color or combination of colors , but are most often depicted as golden , yellow or white when representing light or red when representing flames . </P>
the halo in a middle ages painting to indicate a subject is holy is a
the halo in a middle ages painting to indicate a subject is holy is a
iconography
iconography