Icon in the Pantheon
Early 7th-century icon of the Madonna and Child above the altar. This was previously dated to the 13th century, but the original was recently recovered under layers of overpainting. It is a rare survival of an icon from a period when they were a common feature in Roman churches. The Pantheon was built in 125 AD by Hadrian, dedicated to all the gods. It was turned into a church in 609 AD, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs.
Credit: Holly Hayes