During the Byzantine period, early Christians had established that art could design images representing Christ, Mary, and the saints. All these images were considered icons. From the Greek eikon, it means image. They are found throughout the Romanesque and Gothic style. This essay will attempt to describe how symbols were used and the meanings they had from the 11th century, throughout the Renaissance. Art had evolved and their use was found inside and outside buildings, on paintings, sculptures and more. The only problem they found was that these images were becoming more and more revered and the issue of idolatry was being condemned by the Eastern Church. Therefore they declared that these images could only be used if they served as intermediaries between those who worshiped and the figures found there. During the Romanesque period, many buildings, such as churches and monasteries, were built, their number increasing exponentially. The main reason was the desire to create monumental places of worship and call them the house of the Lord, which also included his saints. These structures were entirely covered with religious motifs. Scholars claim that these serve to inspire and instruct believers to follow a certain Christian message and/or goal. These buildings, mainly churches, were built according to a main model. They had to proceed from east to west and in a manner as complex as they were, where it was a series of simple geometric shapes. They included interior locations repurposed according to their use. These locations were the chapels, the ambulatories, the apse and the choir, as well as a high passage tower and an entrance porch. The term Gothic was used by the Italians to designate the...... middle of paper ...... sh meaning on the symbols used. These symbols are used today and are recognized as they were then. REFERENCES Stokstad, M. (2009). History of the arts. Portable edition. (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Figure 1, St. Peter's Cathedral, Beauvais, chancel, begun 1225, restored 1284 after collapse. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mgot/hd_mgot.htmFigure 2, Amiens Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame), 1220, view of the choir. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mgot/hd_mgot.htmFigure 3, Pieta [Tempera on wood] Retrieved from http://www.sandrobotticelli.org/painting-Sandro%20Botticelli-Pieta-33391 . htmFigure 4, Handing over of keys to Saint-Pierre. [Photograph]. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/107131/Giving-of-the-Keys-to-St-Peter-fresco-by-Perugino