Have tentacled aliens – or possibly Cthulhu – been dropping in on our planet on the quiet for centuries, spotted only by a few artists?

That’s the conclusion ancient alien fans have arrived at, after what looks like a flying saucer spewing out tentacled beasts was spotted in a painting in Florence.

The painting, Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist hangs in the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence – and has become a magnet for UFO oddballs.

Madonna and Child with the infant Saint John the Baptist, painting attributed to the Master of Tondo Miller (end of 15th century).
What on Earth? Source: DeAgostini

Website Ancient Aliens said, ‘The UFO is of the familiar dish or saucer shape with rays radiating from it, implying it is emitting light.

‘Also, in the upper left of this painting are strange creatures under the sun. Another close up is offered of these tentacle-like creatures.

‘Are these also aliens?’

Well, the short answer is – probably not. Art experts say that the ‘saucer’ and ‘aliens’ are actually angels, who are not always depicted as having human form.

Nigel Watson, author of the UFO Investigations Manual, says, ‘There are numerous examples of what to our modern eyes look like astronauts and spaceships in ancient and religious artworks.

Madonna and Child with the infant Saint John the Baptist, painting attributed to the Master of Tondo Miller (end of 15th century).
Are these extraterrestrials? Getty

‘What we have to understand that artists in the past did not adhere to literal representations of things and often used symbolism to tell a story to give greater meaning to the picture.