The Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades has unearthed a rare fresco depicting the Virgin Mary, believed to date from before the Iconoclastic Controversy of the 8th century.

This fresco, part of a larger collection of pre-iconoclastic wall paintings found on the island, offers a glimpse into the artistic expressions and religious practices prevalent in the Byzantine Aegean before the contentious period that sought to ban the veneration of religious images. Images were plastered over to hide them, with the practice eventually preserving them.

The discovery is expected to shed light on the evolution of Byzantine painting in the region and the role of religious imagery in the lives of its inhabitants during this crucial period