Eagle-eyed conspiracy theorists claim that a nativity painting called 'Madonna and Child with the Infant St John' features 'proof of aliens'.
The painting, which is thought to date back to the 16th century, is said to depict the Nativity story, featuring baby Jesus, Saint John the Baptist and the Patron Saint of Florence.
It can be found in the Hall of Hercules on the second floor of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, and has also been variously attributed to Domenico Ghirlandaio, Filippino Lippi, Sebastiano Mainardi and to Jacopo del Sellaio.
The Sun reports that many people have drawn the conclusion that the artwork contains a UFO shape floating in the sky in the painting's upper right corner.
The unidentified flying object resembles a tilted lead-coloured disk with a turret dome which is very similar to descriptions given by traditional science fiction to alien spacecraft.
Conspiracy theorists have suggested that the painting contains evidence of an ancient 'UFO sighting', dubbing the image 'Madonna of the UFO'.
According to the Florence Inferno website, a number of art historians have claimed that the 'UFO' is actually an angel who is watching the nativity scene.
However, this is not the first time 'aliens' have been spotted in an historical painting.
Tourists visiting a church in Medieval Citadel in Sighisoara, Transylvania were left puzzled after they discovered a strange object in a piece of ancient artwork.
The artwork, which adorns the wall of the 13th century monetary, first appeared in the 17th century after the place of worship burnt down.
However, Nicolae Tescula, manager of the history museum Sighisoara, thinks the bizarre unidentified object could just be the artist's representation of heaven.
Casting doubt on the theory it could show the first signs of alien life on earth, Tescula said: "The church is Evangelical and the image has a secondary role or is less representative.
"Indeed, there is a painting in the sacristy of the church with a religious scene that represents a cloud – perhaps Elijah’s assumption to Heaven – which looks like a dome, but can lead to a more modern representation that might make us think of a UFO."
In more recent events, a TikTok 'time traveller' has warned that the 'hostile aliens that built the pyramids' will return to planet Earth soon in a frightening address.
The self-professed 'time traveller' warned viewers that the 'hostile aliens will return and start the first war on Christmas Day 2022.
The creator of the video, who posted under the username @timevoyaging, has gained more than 351,000 followers since the account was created by posting outlandish warnings about future events.
In the video, which has gained over 6,000 likes since it was posted, the creator wrote: "ATTENTION! On December 25, 2022, the US government reveals that the pyramids were built by aliens.
"The Distants are a hostile species of aliens who are trying to 'command' the galaxy. They put the pyramids on each planet that they take over, if the planet has other life.
"When they eventually come back to our planet, they will start the First War of Earth."
Viewers were divided in the comment section, with some stating "It's not gonna be a holly jolly Christmas anymore," while others said "I would love to believe this, but logic is pulling me back."
