What is that yellow ring/halo that is usually put behind the head of anyone who is holy in a painting called? Best answer on the web

Posted in: darrelrussell.com edit
07 Jan 2009
  • for example the yellow circle thing that is behind paintings of jesus, mary, and saints...what is it called? is it just a halo?


  • simply a halo


  • A disk round the head, it is called specifically a halo or nimbus.

    (Nimbus is latin for cloud. Halo is Latin for circle.)



    A ring around the whole body is an aureola or aureole. That is a specific name for a halo from the Latin word aurea for gold .



    The combination of nimbus and aureole is called a glory.


  • aureole or gloriole


  • a halo


  • Ummm...a halo


  • it's somehow supposed to represent a higher state of consciousness.



    go figure