The Iconoclast Controversy was a significant dispute in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries regarding the use of religious images, or icons, in worship. Supporters of icons, known as Iconodules, believed that these images helped convey spiritual truths and aided in devotion. In contrast, the Iconoclasts argued that the veneration of icons was a form of idolatry, violating the commandment against graven images. The controversy led to periods of intense conflict, including the destruction of icons and persecution of their supporters. It was officially resolved in 843 when the Orthodox Church affirmed the veneration of icons, marking the end of the controversy and establishing a lasting tradition in Byzantine Christianity.