![Greek Wooden Icon of St. Bartholomew](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Greek-Wooden-Icon-of-St.-Bartolomew.jpg)
In the past an icon was a painting, usually on wood, of Jesus Christ, or of a person considered holy by Christians, especially in Russia and Greece. These icons often had a halo also known as a nimbus, aureole, glory, or gloriole. It is a crown of light rays, circle or disk of light that surrounds a person in art. It has been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures.
Later the meaning of ‘icon’ evolved into a famous person (or thing) considered as representing a set of beliefs or a way of life. Like David Beckham becoming one of the UK’s best-loved sporting icons.
![Buddha Icon with Aura](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Buddha-Icon-with-Aura.png)
Nowadays we think of it as a symbol reflecting a particular file type on a PC. And within an application it’s a small picture or symbol that you point to and click on (= press) with a mouse to give the computer an instruction. Believe it or not, there are nowadays even icons for your PC with an aura, indicating concentration, enlightenment, and meditation.
![American Bald Eagle](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Eagle1.png)
In this context it was funny to see some pictures from politicians lately taken recently, from such a point of view that they were iconified so to say. What to think about the following pictures from Joe Biden where the American Bald Eagle symbol on a blue background took the roll of an aura.
![Biden misaligned](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Biden-misaligned.jpg)
![Biden aligned](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Biden-aligned-1024x614.jpg)
![After inauguration](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Aligned-after-Inauguration.jpg)
![](https://duijndam.dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Biden-praying-1024x614.jpg)
Not just Biden got iconified recently. What to think about Mutti Merkel below 😉 ❓