What did the iconoclasts believe about icons?

Iconoclasts believed that religious icons and images were idolatrous and should be destroyed, as they viewed the veneration of icons as a violation of the biblical command against graven images. They argued that focusing on physical representations distracted the faithful from true worship of God. This movement was particularly prominent during the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries, leading to significant religious and political conflict. Ultimately, iconoclasts sought to purify Christian worship from what they considered improper practices.