Why did some in the byzantine empire oppose the use of religious icons?

Some in the Byzantine Empire opposed the use of religious icons due to a belief in iconoclasm, which held that creating and veneration of images could lead to idolatry and distract from the worship of God. This perspective was influenced by interpretations of the Ten Commandments and a desire to maintain the purity of Christian faith. The Iconoclasts argued that icons could misrepresent the divine and undermine the spiritual essence of worship. Their opposition led to significant theological and political conflict within the empire.