that can be dated is an image immediately recognizable. Called Virgin and Child Enthroned between Saints and Angels, it dates from the late 6th century (Janson and Janson 255). This same design (of Mary seated while holding the young Christ), often of a similar name, became one of the most popular icons. In these paintings Mary is depicted as the imperial mother of God, (a technique which was based on the Egyptian way of portraying Isis) and this design of her continued into the 9th century (Janson and Janson 255). The throne on which she is seated, and the title, help give her a regal quality. This style continued on, even as some artists began to feel that Mary's virginity was a more important attribute to be portrayed. However, even in this early work, and almost all of the depictions of the virgin that are found after, her hair is covered or something is on it, symbolizing her virginity.
             Eventually the icons of Mary with her baby Jesus moved off the page into three dimensional form. One example of this is the Enthroned Virgin and Child, which was made of
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