A UFO research organization in Israel has sent out a report regarding a wall painting in a 14th century church in Romania that may depict a UFO. It is similar to objects seen in paintings and coins ranging from the 4th century to the 17th century. One UFO investigator feels that the objects in the images may have an explanation that is more down to earth.
The wall painting depicts a disc-shaped object over a building that is emitting smoke. It also has a caption in German that reads "Israel, hoffe auf den HERRN," which translated means "Israel, put your hope in the Lord." EURA (Israeli Extraterrestrials and UFOs Research Organization) explains that this is a quote from Psalms song of ascents, c.130 v.7.
EURA also notes that the painting is not often referenced in UFO research regarding depictions of UFOs in art. However, the image does look similar to other paintings and coins which are commonly believed by UFO researchers to depict aerial anomalies.
One such image is from the Prodigiorum Liber, which was an account of mysterious occurrence in early Rome written by Julius Obsequens. The image in question is supposed to depict a round object that was seen at sunset with a "large beam of fire" to the right. This sighting is supposed to have taken place in 98 B.C.
There are also French coins from the 17th century with a similar round object. Some researchers believe these to be depictions of Ezekiel's wheel. However, Marc Dantonio, Chief Photo/Video Analyst for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), has another explanation. He says the shield-shaped object in these images is just that, a military shield.
Although, Dantonio says the object is a shield, he admits that it is still a mystery as to why they are in the sky or coming out of the clouds. He writes:
"One story is that this particular coin is showing Jupiter's Shield falling to Earth to aid Numa Pompilius, the second Roman king. The shield is said to have led them to victory during desperate times. But even so, it is still interesting that the shield was bestowed from on high. Was there some otherworldly influence rooted in their culture that prompted putting the shield in the sky? Protection or technology from above perhaps? That's still a mystery."