The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 C.E., but the eastern segment (which we call the Byzantine Empire) partially recovered. The Byzantines, whose state religion was Christianity, were shaken by the rapid rise of the Islamic Caliphate, culminating in the siege of Constantinople (717-718 C.E.), which was followed by a massive Aegean volcanic eruption and tsunami (726 C.E.). Seeking to restore the simplicity of early Christianity, Emperor Leo III emulated Islam and barred the veneration of religious images (icons) as idolatrous — the first movement actually called iconoclasm. Few icons survived the waves of destruction lasting more than a century. Most of those remaining are on small gold coins or jewelry, such as this sixth-century clasp with intaglio medallion of the Virgin and Child. Once iconoclasm ended in 842 C.E., the Byzantine Empire produced new icons in vast numbers.