Vatican officials have announced a discovery of the earliest known icons of Saints Peter and Paul, in a catacomb under an eight-storey modern office building in a working-class neighbourhood of Rome. The images, which date from the second half of the 4th century, were discovered on the ceiling of a tomb that also includes the earliest known images of the apostles John and Andrew, said an AFP report in the Herald Sun.
They were uncovered using a new laser technique that allowed restorers to burn off centuries of thick white calcium carbonate deposits without damaging the dark colours of the original paintings underneath, the report said.
Vatican archaeologists announced that the icon of St Paul discovered last year was not found in isolation, but was rather part of a square ceiling painting that also included icons of three other apostles - Peter, John and Andrew - surrounding an image of Christ as the Good Shepherd.
“These are the first images of the apostles,” said Fabrizio Bisconti, the superintendent of archaeology for the catacombs, which are maintained by the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology.
The Vatican office oversaw and paid for the two-year 60,000 euros ($US75,000) restoration effort, which for the first time used lasers to restore frescoes and paintings in catacombs.
SIC: CTHAS