History Main / HolyHalo

[[caption-width-right:196: Every deity should have one![[note]]Or Bodhisattva, in this guy's case[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:196: Every deity should have one!]]

* ''Literature/TheBelgarath'': Belgarath the Sorcerer [[InvokedTrope conjures one up]] for himself, tilted rakishly over one ear, when he wants to dispel any doubts as to his identity. He ''is'' a LivingLegend and an EmissaryFromTheDivine, but the position doesn't naturally come with a halo, and he's the first to admit that the "Holy Belgarath" epithet is a gross mischaracterization.

* ''VideoGame/NamuAmidaButsuUtena'': Dainichi Nyorai has one behind his head. It's implied to be a solid object that can be taken off and put on at will, as he doesn't have it in his internal affairs getup and an official one-panel comic sees him decide to ''decorate it with LED lights''.
** Bishamonten also has one, but it's in the shape of a wheel. Like Dainichi, it's absent from his internal affairs gear.

** [[GodEmperor The Emperor]] is always depicted with one, even in works set prior to his deification.

* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': In "[[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/parable-117 NP: Parable: 117]]", a ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'' reference used as part of a [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]]-based CharacterModelKarmaMeter of Good Morality, and its symbol for when that has been achieved.

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', fiery haloes manifest naturally over the heads of people who have particularly refined EnlightenmentSuperpowers, especially in moments of great intent or emotional clarity. This is because they’re an extension of the inner fire of one’s soul. Most notably, the seven GodEmperor Demiurges each sport a unique halo. They have ''[[PureIsNotGood nothing]]'' to do with goodness, to say the least.

* [[TheGrimReaper Meroko]] gets a halo at the end of ''Anime/FullMoonOSagashite'' when she [[spoiler:becomes an angel.]]

* In ''[[https://tapas.io/series/GhostBlade Ghostblade]], members of the Feathered Race (aka Angels) have large halos of metal.

* The ''TabletopGame/DungeonAndDragons'' 3.5 ''Book of Exalted Deeds'' offers the exalted feats "Nimbus of Light" and "Holy Radiance". Nimbus of Light provides illumination and help interact with good creatures. Holy Radiance is a more powerful form, the light hurting TheUndead. Those taking a Vow of Poverty are considered very likely to pick both sooner or later, as they're getting free exalted feats, and not that many are worthwhile.

* In the Dresden Files book ''Literature/{{Changes}}'' [[spoiler:when Karrin Murphy draws a holy sword to fight powerful, ancient vampires, Harry releases his spirit friend Bob to protect Murphy from the mental assaults by said vampires. Bob whirls around Murphy's head with a golden radiance, giving her the appearance of a halo.]]

* The TropeCodifier seems to be the Christian art canon, where any holy person or being tended to be drawn with a halo.Christian paintings from late Antiquity on often have halos around Jesus/Virgin Mary/Holy Figure of Choice's head. An early distinction was to show living people [[http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/images/symbols/halos/square-prassede-rome-apse-pope-paschal-200.jpg with square haloes]], and the sanctified dead with round ones. More than a few paintings of {{God}} give Him a triangular, rather than circular, halo, to represent the Holy Trinity. Christ is distinguished by a halo encircling a cross. The almond shaped mandorla sometimes surrounds the entire body of God or the Virgin Mary. The early Renaissance made a distinction between the full round halo given to saints, and rays of light given to ''beati''. In the High Renaissance, the fascination with perspective encouraged artists to create the hoop-shaped haloes that assumed a distressing materiality in later artists, and led to the "halo on a stick" version beloved by the comic artist.

* In ''Series/DoctorWho,'' angel robots were the waiters on the ''[[UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic Titanic]]'' [-IN SPACE!-]. When the bad guy reprogrammed them for CrushKillDestroy, they plucked off their halos (to use as [[ImprobableWeaponUser instruments of death]]) which left behind the mounts - which now looked [[FallenAngel like horns]].

Holiness aside, some characters can wear an "artificial" halo without ever being remotely religious or even spiritual. Energy powered {{Super Hero}}es (and {{Super Villain}}s) may create {{Battle Aura}}s around their head (or entire body) related to their power, like GreenLantern or [[ComicBook/TheAuthority Apollo]]. Interestingly, robotic characters may be built with mechanical halos that can shoot ReverseShrapnel, or double as DeflectorShields. Further, evil characters may create "negative" halos of darkness around themselves, paired with FaceFramedInShadow along with GlowingEyesOfDoom and a red ThroatLight.

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the seven GodEmperor Demiurges have these, as well as a few others with unusually refined EnlightenmentSuperpowers. They have ''nothing'' to do with goodness, to say the least.