Pronunciation: [ˌanɪkˈɒnɪk] (IPA) 
Aniconic is a term used to describe a religious or cultural practice that avoids the use of icons or images. The spelling of the word is [ænɪkɑnɪk], with the stress on the second syllable. The use of the letter 'a' at the beginning indicates a negative prefix, meaning 'without' or 'not.' The combination of 'i' and 'o' is pronounced as 'ai' in 'eye,' and the final syllable is stressed with the 'ic' suffix indicating an adjective.
Aniconic is an adjective that is used to describe something that lacks or does not contain any form of visual representation, imagery, or pictorial depiction, particularly in relation to religious or cultural practices. The term "aniconic" is often used to refer to modes of worship or artistic expressions that do not employ or permit the use of religious icons, symbols, or images.
In religious contexts, an aniconic representation is one that avoids visual or physical representations of deities, often out of a desire to emphasize the transcendent or abstract nature of the divine. This can be seen in various religious traditions, including Islam and certain branches of Hinduism, where strict adherence to aniconism encourages believers to focus on the spiritual and philosophical aspects of their faith without the influence of physical or visual distractions.
Additionally, the concept of aniconism extends beyond religious practices and can also refer to cultural or artistic expressions that do not utilize imagery or icons. In art, aniconic forms may involve the use of abstract or non-representational visual elements, avoiding the use of identifiable figures or objects. This intentional absence of pictorial representation can serve to challenge conventional artistic norms and elicit a more subjective or open-ended engagement with the artwork.
Overall, the term "aniconic" encapsulates the idea of negating or purposefully avoiding the use of visual representations, whether in religious, cultural, or artistic contexts.
The word "aniconic" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "an" meaning "without" or "not", and "eikon" meaning "image" or "icon".
