Short answers, pulled from the story.
The word aniconism derives from the Greek term eikon meaning image combined with a negative prefix. This linguistic root establishes a cultural absence of artistic representations for natural or supernatural worlds.
Since the 1890s scholars described the earliest phase of Buddhist art as lasting until the first century CE. During this period the Buddha appeared only through symbols like empty thrones Bodhi trees or footprints.
Two periods of iconoclasm occurred within the Byzantine Empire during the mid eighth and early ninth centuries. Political aspects involved complex relationships between Emperors Catholic Church Orthodox Church councils and the Pope.
David Kaufmann marshalled extensive data to prove that Judaism is not strictly aniconic as previously believed. He published his first article using the term Jewish art in 1878 establishing a scholarly discipline of Jewish art history.
Roman historian Tacitus wrote about Germanic tribes stating they did not consider it mighty enough to depict Gods on walls. His observation was not general to all Germanic peoples as documentary evidence suggests regarding Ardre image stones.