Why this museum in Malta is one you shouldn't miss...

"Sleeping Lady" figure

I recently visited Valletta, the capital of Malta. Largely built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, this characterful city is steeped in history, with a myriad of fascinating buildings. One of these buildings is Malta's National Museum of Archaeology.

The museum is housed in the former Auberge de Provence. Built for members of the Order of St. John in the 16th century, it now contains a magnificent archaeological collection with objects and structural remains ranging from Neolithic times, to the Bronze Age, to the Phoenicians.

The ground floor is devoted to finds from Malta's Neolithic period. Some of the most impressive finds come from the Tarxien temples, located just south of Valletta. This Neolithic complex consists of impressive megalithic structures featuring spiral decoration, some of which are on display in the museum. The central temple is said to be unusual, in that it is the only known example with six apses. There are two beautifully decorated stone slabs from the temples on display. The large slab depicts two rows of eleven sheep, whilst the smaller one illustrates four sheep, a pig and a ram (see 2nd image below). It has been suggested that this indicates animal sacrifices were practised.

There are also equally impressive small artefacts on display. One of the highlights is the so-called "Sleeping Lady" (see images below). This figure has come to symbolise Malta's prehistoric period. She was discovered in the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground necropolis dating to 3600 BC. This clay woman is wearing a skirt and is naked from the waist upwards. She is portrayed lying on her side, asleep on what appears to be a couch or a bed. The details are finely wrought- we can see her facial features, the pleats in her skirt and even her fingers and strands of hair. It is thought that this may represent eternal sleep, in other words, death.

Another beautiful small find is a gold pendant featuring the Egyptian deities of Horus and Anubis (see 4th image below). Dating to the 6th or 7th century BC, it was found in a rock cut tomb. Therefore, it dates to the Phoenician period of Malta's history. The Phoenicians were a people from the Levant, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. They are best known for being maritime traders. There are also finds from a Phoenician shipwreck on display, including amphorae used to transport wine.

There are many more spectacular finds on display, from papyrus remains to Corinthian pottery. So, if you have even the slightest interest in archaeology, then Malta's National Museum of Archaeology is a must see.

(Note: All images are my own.)