Outline of the Iconclass system

The 10 main categories
    0   Abstract, Non-representational Art
    1   Religion and Magic
    2   Nature
    3   Human Being, Man in General
    4   Society, Civilization, Culture
    5   Abstract Ideas and Concepts
    6   History
    7   Bible
    8   Literature
    9   Classical Mythology and Ancient History

The outline below lists the 450 basic categories of the Iconclass system. You can use the outline to familiarize yourself with the main groups of subjects.

Three levels deep
0 Abstract, Non-representational Art
1 Religion and Magic
    10   (symbolic) representations ~ creation, cosmos, cosmogony, universe, and 
          life (in the broadest sense)
    11   Christian religion
       11A   Deity, God (in general) ~ Christian religion
       11B   the Holy Trinity, 'Trinitas coelestis'; Father, Son and Holy Ghost ~ Christian religion
       11C   God the Father
       11D   Christ
       11E   the Holy Ghost
       11F   the Virgin Mary
       11G   angels
       11H   saints
       11I   prophets, sibyls, evangelists, Doctors of the Church; persons ~ the Bible 
             (not in biblical context)
       11K   devil(s) and demons
       11L   Christian doctrine
       11M   'Sapientia' and the Seven Virtues, i.e. the Three Theological and the Four Cardinal Virtues
       11N   Vice, and the Seven Deadly Sins
       11O   strife between Virtues and Vices, Psychomachy
       11P   the Church (as institution)
       11Q   the worship of God
       11R   the life of man
       11S   heaven, celestial paradise, New Earth
       11T   hell and purgatory
       11U   Last Judgement
       11V   the (seven) Acts of Mercy
    12   non-Christian religions (including institutions, customs and antiquities)
       12A   Jewish religion and culture
       12B   non-Christian religions and cults (in general)
       12C   Egyptian religion
       12D   Babylonian-Assyrian religions and other antique religions of the Near East and Northern Africa
       12E   Greek religion (including Minoan and Mycenaean culture)
       12F   Roman religion (including Etruscan religion)
       12G   Mithraism and other Hellenistic or Late Roman (provincial) religions (including ancient
             Iranian religions)
       12H   Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism
       12I   Islam, Mohammedanism
       12K   Celtic religion
       12L   Germanic and Scandinavian religions
       12M   Slavonic and other European and Central-Asian religions (including Basque, Finnish, 
             and Magyar religions)
       12N   traditional Chinese religions
       12O   Shinto
       12P   tribal religions of South-East Asia
       12Q   African tribal religions
       12R   American Indian religions
       12S   Australian and Polynesian/Melanesian religions
       12T   Arctic religions (Siberian-, Lapp-, Eskimo-religions)
       12U   miscellaneous religions, cults and doctrines
    13   magic, supernaturalism, occultism
       13A   general phenomena ~ magic and supernaturalism (spirits, ghosts, etc.)
       13B   witchcraft, sorcery
       13C   magic signs and objects (numbers, words, etc.)
       13D   enchantment (evil eye, transformation, healings, etc.)
       13E   divination, prognostication ~ magic
       13F   microcosmos ~ macrocosmos
       13G   superstition, popular belief
       13H   parapsychology
    14   astrology
       14A   astrologer at work
       14B   horoscope
       14C   astrological signs and symbols
2 Nature
    20   'Natura' (allegorical figure or scene; or as Diana of Ephesus, with many breasts); 'Natura' (Ripa)
    21   the four elements, and ether, the fifth element
       21A   air (one of the four elements)
       21B   earth (one of the four elements)
       21C   fire (one of the four elements)
       21D   water (one of the four elements)
       21E   ether as 'quinta essentia'
    22   natural phenomena
       22A   matter
       22B   electricity and magnetism
       22C   light
       22D   sound
       22E   temperature
    23   time
       23A   allegory of Time and Eternity
       23B   period of more than one year
       23C   year, solar year
       23D   seasons of the year (esp. personifications); 'Stagione', 'Le quattro stagione dell'anno' (Ripa)
       23E   seasons of the year represented by scenes showing human activities, usually in a landscape
       23F   seasons of the year represented by landscapes
       23G   seasons of the year represented by still lifes of flowers and/or fruits
       23H   seasons of the year represented by concepts other than personifications, human activities,
             landscapes, or still lifes of flowers and/or fruits (e.g. biblical scenes)
       23I   the twelve months (especially personifications); 'Mese in generale' (Ripa)
       23K   the twelve months represented by scenes showing human activities, usually in a landscape;
             so-called 'labours of the months'
       23L   the twelve months represented by landscapes
       23M   the twelve months represented by still lifes of flowers and/or fruits
       23N   the twelve months of the year represented by concepts other than personifications, 
             human activities, landscapes, or still lifes of flowers and/or fruits
       23O   zodiac; the twelve zodiacal signs together
       23P   weeks
       23Q   days of the week
       23R   day and night
       23S   the empires of the world
       23T   historical epochs
       23U   chronology
    24   the heavens (celestial bodies)
       24A   sun as celestial body
       24B   moon as celestial body
       24C   planets (except the earth)
       24D   stars
       24E   astronomical phenomena
       24F   firmament, sky
       24G   spheres ~ heavens
    25   earth, world as celestial body
       25A   maps, atlases
       25B   continents represented allegorically
       25C   geological phenomena
       25D   rock types; minerals and metals; soil types
       25E   geological-chronological division; historical geology; geological era
       25F   animals
       25G   plants; vegetation
       25H   landscapes
       25I   city-view, and landscape with man-made constructions
       25K   landscapes in the non-temperate zone, exotic landscapes
       25L   cities represented allegorically or symbolically
       25M   the Seven Wonders of the World
       25N   fictitious countries
    26   meteorological phenomena
       26A   clouds
       26B   rain
       26C   winds
       26D   frost, freezing weather
       26E   thunderstorm
       26F   good and bad weather
       26G   mirage, 'fata morgana'
       26H   still other meteorological phenomena
    29   surrealia, surrealistic representations
       29A   animals acting as human beings
       29B   plants behaving as human beings or animals
       29C   objects coming to life, e.g. puppets
       29D   natural forms in stones, wood, clouds, etc. interpreted as representations
3 Human Being, Man in General
    31   man in a general biological sense
       31A   the (nude) human figure; 'Corpo humano' (Ripa)
       31B   mind, spirit
       31C   spirit (or soul) versus body
       31D   human life and its ages (young, adult, old, etc.)
       31E   death of human being
       31F   symbols and personifications of Death
       31G   the soul
    32   human types; peoples and nationalities
       32A   human types
       32B   peoples; ethnic groups; nationalities
       32C   scientific classification of human races
    33   relations between individual persons
       33A   non-aggressive relationships
       33B   aggressive relationships, enmity, animosity
       33C   relations between the sexes
    34   man and animal
       34A   taming and training of animals
       34B   domestic animals, kept in and outside the house
       34C   protection of animals
       34D   control and eradication of injurious animals
       34E   restraint of animals
       34F   man and (wild) animal
       34G   man disguised as animal
    35   pastorals, Arcadian scenes
    36   man and environment
       36A   environmental conservation, protection
       36B   environmental destruction
4 Society, Civilization, Culture
    41   material aspects of daily life
       41A   housing
       41B   heating and lighting
       41C   nutrition, nourishment
       41D   fashion, clothing
       41E   still life of miscellaneous objects
    42   family, descendance
       42A   procreation, birth and (early) youth
       42B   parents with their children
       42C   period of adolescence
       42D   betrothal and marriage
       42E   burial rites
       42F   household management; housewife at work
       42G   family, relationship, descent
       42Z   exotic and non-monogamous family forms
    43   recreation, amusement
       43A   festivities
       43B   recreation
       43C   sports, games and physical performances
       43D   other leisure time activities
    44   state; law; political life
       44A   symbols of the state (in general)
       44B   government, the State; 'Politica', 'Auttorità o Potestà' (Ripa)
       44C   the citizen and his rights
       44D   administrative bodies
       44E   government services, public services
       44F   revolution, revolt
       44G   law and jurisprudence
    45   warfare; military affairs
       45A   war and peace
       45B   the soldier; the soldier's life
       45C   (military) equipment and supply
       45D   insignia; division of armed forces; ranks
       45E   communication and transport
       45F   preparation for battle
       45G   defensive measures (military)
       45H   battle, fighting in general
       45I   after the battle
       45K   siege, position war
       45L   occupation ~ war
       45M   non-combatants ~ war
    46   social and economic life, transport and communication
       46A   communal life
       46B   trade, commerce and finance
       46C   traffic and transport
       46D   press, journalism
       46E   post, telegraph and telephone; means of communication
    47   crafts and industries
       47A   industrial structures
       47B   handicrafts and industries
       47C   industrial processes, handling of materials
       47D   machines; parts of machines; tools and appliances
       47E   organization of craft and industry
       47F   before and after production
       47G   building activities
       47H   textile industry and clothing industry
       47I   agriculture, cattle-breeding, horticulture, flowerculture, etc.
       47K   commercial fishery
       47L   shipbuilding industry
    48   art
       48A   art and the public; styles and ornaments
       48B   artist (in general)
       48C   the arts; artists
    49   education, science and learning
       49A   education
       49B   scholastic education, tuition
       49C   aspects of science in general
       49D   mathematics
       49E   science and technology
       49F   biology
       49G   medicine, medical science
       49H   social sciences
       49I   geography
       49K   historical disciplines; philology
       49L   writing and letters
       49M   production of printed matter, book-production
       49N   reading
5 Abstract Ideas and Concepts
    51   Generalities
       51A   Existence and Modes of Existence
       51B   Kinds of Relation
       51C   Causation
       51D   Order and Disorder
       51E   Hierarchical Order
       51F   Temporal Relationship
       51G   Some Characteristics of Matter
       51H   Quantity and Degree
       51I   Space
       51K   Aspects of Change
       51L   Types of Motion
       51M   Quality of Motion
    52   Reasoning and Formation of Ideas
       52A   Intelligence and Intellectual Faculties
       52B   Reasoning
       52C   Understanding and Misunderstanding
       52D   Communication of Thought (qualitative aspects)
       52E   Communication of Thought (answer and question)
    53   Will, Volition
       53A   Characteristics of Will
       53B   Acts of the Will
       53C   Authority and Subordination
       53D   Intersocial Volition
    54   Process of Action
       54A   State of Being while Doing
       54B   Means and Characteristics of Means
       54C   Intention, Purpose, Aim
       54D   Procedure
       54E   Reciprocal Action
       54F   Fortune and Misfortune
    55   Property
       55A   Acquisition and Loss
       55B   Possession
       55C   Use of Property
    56   Emotion
       56A   Feeling
       56B   Joy and Sorrow
       56C   Aesthetic Sense
       56D   Hope and Fear
       56E   Anger and Meekness
       56F   Desire and Aversion
    57   Morality
       57A   Good and Bad Behaviour, Moral Qualities
       57B   Judgment of Conduct
    58   Creation
       58A   Creation and Destruction
       58B   Vitality and Mortality
    59   Aspects of Social Conduct
       59A   Man ~ Community
       59B   Social Position
       59C   Justice and Injustice
6 History
    61   historical events and situations; historical persons
       61A   historical events and situations
       61B   historical persons (portraits and scenes from the life)
       61C   proper names of plants and animals
       61D   geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc.
       61E   names of cities and villages
       61F   names of historical buildings, sites, streets, etc.
       61G   names of artefacts and man-made objects
       61H   names of organizations, companies, trade unions, etc.
       61I   names of historical events and situations
       61K   (other) historical names
    62   visions of the future
7 Bible
    71   Old Testament
       71A   Genesis from the creation to the expulsion from paradise, and later years of Adam and Eve
       71B   Genesis from the descendants of Cain and Seth to Abraham
       71C   Genesis: the patriarchs
       71D   Genesis: the story of Joseph
       71E   Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua: from the bondage of the Israelites 
             in Egypt to their settlement in Canaan
       71F   the time of the Judges
       71G   story of Saul
       71H   story of David
       71I   story of Solomon
       71K   division of the Kingdom, and story of Israel, the Northern Kingdom
       71L   the divided kingdom: story of the Southern Kingdom (Judah)
       71M   story of Elijah (Elias)
       71N   story of Elisha (Eliseus)
       71O   prophets (before and during the Babylonian Captivity)
       71P   the story of the prophet Daniel; his visions and prophecies
       71Q   the story of Esther
       71R   the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esdras
       71S   prophets (after the Babylonian Captivity)
       71T   the book of Tobit
       71U   the book of Judith
       71V   the book of Jonah
       71W   the book of Job
       71X   the lyric books: Psalms and Song of Solomon
       71Y   the books of Wisdom
       71Z   (books of the) Maccabees
    72   typological juxtapositions and compositions
       72A   typological juxtapositions
       72B   comprehensive typological compositions
    73   New Testament
       73A   (scenes from the life of) John the Baptist and Mary
       73B   birth and youth of Christ
       73C   public life of Christ: from his baptism until the Passion
       73D   Passion of Christ
       73E   events from Resurrection to Pentecost (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21;
             Acts 1:3-11); Mary's and Joseph's death
       73F   lives and acts of the apostles of Christ; epistles
       73G   the Revelation of John, the Apocalypse
8 Literature
    81   literary cycles
       81A   Arthurian legend : Use 81(ARTHURIAN LEGEND)
       81B   'Nibelungenlied' : Use 81(NIBELUNGENLIED)
       81C   Dante, 'Divina Commedia' : Use 83(DANTE, Divina Commedia)
       81D   Boccaccio, 'Decameron' : Use 83(BOCCACCIO, Decamerone)
       81E   Ariosto, 'Orlando Furioso' : Use 83(ARIOSTO, Orlando Furioso)
       81F   Tasso, 'Gerusalemme Liberata' : Use 83(TASSO, Gerusalemme Liberata)
       81G   'The Poems of Ossian' : Use 83(MACPHERSON, Poems of Ossian)
       81H   other cycles : Use 81(...)
    82   literary characters and objects
       82A   names of literary characters
       82B   names of fictional animals, plants, objects, etc.
    83   specific works of literature
    84   tales and fairy tales
    85   fables
       85A   fables of Aesop : Use 85(...)
       85B   fables of Lafontaine : Use 85(...)
       85C   other fables : Use 85(...)
    86   proverbs, sayings, etc.
9 Classical Mythology and Ancient History
    91   myths about creation: cosmogony, theogony, and the origin of man
       91A   genesis of the universe ~ classical mythology
       91B   offspring of Uranus and Gaea (Titans, Cyclopes, Centimani)
       91C   the battles (of Titans, Giants, Typhon, Aloeids) with the gods
       91D   division of the universe (among Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto)
       91E   origin of man
    92   gods ~ classical mythology
       92A   the Olympian gods together: Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Ceres, Apollo, Diana,
             Mars, Venus, Mercury, Minerva, Vulcan, Vesta (or Bacchus)
       92B   the great gods of Heaven, and their train
       92C   the great goddesses of Heaven, and their train
       92D   lesser divinities of Heaven ~ serving and attendant environment
       92E   lesser divinities of Heaven ~ phenomena of air and sky
       92F   lesser divinities of Heaven ~ birth and healing
       92G   lesser divinities of Heaven ~ destiny, fate, adversity
       92H   gods of the waters: Neptune and his environment
       92I   gods of the waters: the older dynasty (first series): offspring of Pontus
             and the monsters of the sea
       92K   gods of the waters: the older dynasty (second series): children of Oceanus,
             river and small water deities
       92L   gods of the earth and fertility ~ life in mountains and woods
       92M   gods of the earth and fertility ~ agriculture
       92N   gods of the underworld
    93   meetings and dwellings of the gods
       93A   meetings of the gods
       93B   Olympus
       93C   Parnassus, sacred to Apollo Musagetes
       93D   Helicon, sacred to the Muses
       93E   Hades, the Underworld
       93F   the Garden of the Hesperides
       93G   House of Sleep: a gloomy cave through which runs the river Lethe; possibly with 
             two gates, one of ivory through which deceptive dreams issue, and one of horn through
             which true dreams issue
       93H   cave of winds
       93I   other dwellings of the gods
    94   the Greek heroic legends (I)
       94A   the story of the Argonauts: the quest for the Golden Fleece
       94B   the Theban wars: the Seven against Thebes and the Epigoni
       94C   the Trojan war (94C - 94H)
       94D   the Trojan war: the journey to Troy
       94E   the Trojan war: the arrival and the first nine years
       94F   the tenth year of the Trojan war (part I); the wrath of Achilles: from the quarrel about
             Briseis to the death of Patroclus
       94G   the tenth year of the Trojan war (part II): Achilles back to war; his last deeds and his death
       94H   last months of the siege and the fall of Troy
       94I   adventures of the Greeks after the fall of Troy: the wanderings of Ulysses (Homer, Odyssey)
       94K   adventures of the Greeks after the fall of Troy: the return of other Greek heroes
       94L   (story of) Hercules (Heracles)
       94M   (story of) Theseus
       94N   (story of) Meleager
       94O   (story of) Orpheus
       94P   (story of) Perseus
       94Q   (story of) Orion
       94R   (story of) the Dioscuri: Castor (the horse-tamer) and Pollux (the boxer)
       94S   (story of) Bellerophon
       94T   (story of) Oedipus
    95   the Greek heroic legends (II)
       95A   the Greek heroic legends (II): heroes
       95B   the Greek heroic legends (II): heroines
    96   Roman gods and legends
       96A   Roman deities, and foreign deities included in the classical Pantheon
       96B   the story of Aeneas' wanderings to Italy (Virgil, Aeneid)
       96C   heroes, male characters from the legendary origins of Rome
       96D   heroines, female characters from the legendary origins of Rome
    97   metamorphoses ~ classical mythology
       97A   metamorphoses of male persons into trees
       97B   metamorphoses of male persons into plants and flowers
       97C   metamorphoses of male persons into mammals
       97D   metamorphoses of male persons into birds
       97E   metamorphoses of male persons into (fabulous) animals
       97F   metamorphoses of male persons into stone
       97G   metamorphoses of male persons into stars and constellations
       97H   metamorphoses of male persons into water, air, or other elements
       97I   metamorphoses into islands
       97K   metamorphoses ~ sex
       97L   metamorphoses ~ age
       97M   metamorphoses into various forms at will
       97N   metamorphoses of (fabulous) animals
       97O   metamorphoses of objects, plants and flowers
    98   classical history
       98A   events and situations from classical history
       98B   male persons from classical history
       98C   female persons from classical history