Malta: Heritage

Heritage figures big with the Maltese.

From the Temple people, they have incomparable stone age artifacts.

From the Knights of Malta, they have many interesting fortifications, all over the island. 

On the other hand, the Maltese are not so keen on reflecting on their Islamic heritage.

The conspicuous looking enclosed balcony (galleriji) much loved all over the island are just like the miradores in Spain. I used to call them Turkish windows as I associated them with Ottomans. It is obvious to me now they are Mashrabiyas, spread by Islamic conquerors.

What I found most interesting is that the language Maltese is a Semitic language, as in Arabic and Hebrew, but written in Latin script, from the Arab rulers 870-1090. None of the subsequent conquests changed that, except under the Knights of Malta Arabic was changed to Latin script, until the British came in 1800. Today almost everyone and everything is bilingual.

The churches in Malta were sumptuous to say the least. Below is the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady in Mosta, Malta. It is also known as the Rotunda of Mosta and is modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.


The Parish Church in Paola, Malta.






Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta.


St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.


Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck, Valletta.






A church in Birgu (Vittoriosa).


The streets in Rabat as they were preparing for the Feast of St Joseph. The decorative street lamps that were up in advance were pretty spiffy/upscale.






Mdina, adjacent to Rabat, is a fortified city.




Here we are at the base of the Birgu (Vittoriosa) fortifications, looking across the water at Valletta's forts.


And from Valletta's upper fortifications, looking to Birgu (Vittoriosa) fortifications.




On top of the Valletta walls looking north.


Finally, some shots of enclosed balconies (galleriji). At night in Valletta.


Near our apartment in Floriana.


In Rabat.


On the Valletta waterfront.


The yacht basin in Birgu (Vittoriosa).




The main drag in Valletta.

Malta: Stone Age

Malta has some of the world's earliest and most sophisticated artifacts. Their megalithic temples from 4th and 3rd century BCE had me in awe. Their artistic expressions and building techniques fascinated me. They had goats, bulls, and pigs. It was a powerful reminder of how globalized the world has always been, as those animals were originally domesticated far away from Malta. Why did such a sophisticated civilization not leave behind material evidence? Could the later cultures have quarried from them?! The Romans certainly wouldn't have recorded such flagrant acts.

A model of the Hagar Qim Megalithic Temple complex dating from 4000 BC. It is located on a high point by the sea.


The site is now covered by a tent. It is partially reconstructed; that is, some of the megaliths that had fallen have been raised back to the vertical.






One of the semicircular apses.


Looking at the Mnajdra Megalithic Temple complex from Hagar Qim. It is just 600 meters away, also by the sea. Both temples are exactly aligned with the Equinox sunrise.








Some of the stones have been "decorated" with dimples.


This configuration appears to be a shrine.


We also visited the Tarxien Temples (3150 BC).




There was some conservation/repair work going on. It is now known that partially covering the megaliths with concrete in order to preserve them has the opposite effect.


The Tarxien Temples had many more features and recovered artifacts than the other 2 temples.




This area resembles a church altar from modern times, no?


This statue may be related to fertility rites.




The National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta displays many artifacts and architectural elements from Tarxien. This stone has goats, a pig, and a sheep in relief.


And this altar.


More fertility figures.






The exhibits at this museum were very cool. Many showed the artifact with the archaelogist's field notes and photos displayed behind.