THE MALTESE SANCTUARY & ITS PHOENICIAN CONNECTION:
Ballut Ta’Marsaxlokk & Mdina
Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk is found within the Marsaxlokk locality boundary in the southeast of Malta. It is within the northeast corner of Marsaxlokk Bay. The site is also protected as a Bird Sanctuary Area of Ecological Importance and a Site of Scientific Importance. The area is located between the Marsaxlokk settlement and approximately 250m from the Delimara power station. The protected area features a salt marsh (circa 1ha) and is currently managed by Nature Trust Malta.
It is known by locals as ‘Il-Kanal’ or ‘Ir-Riserva’ which was previously used as a hunting ground.
To the north of the site, there is the Tas-Silġ hill. Il-Ballut saline marshland (coastal wetland) is located immediately adjacent to Il-Magħluq ta’ Marsaxlokk, a man-made enclosure for fishermen’s vessels. The area east of the site is predominantly used for agricultural activities. The main hydrological features are the lagoons or water pools. These water pools are desiccated during the dry season except for two pools. During the wet season, the water pools overflow to fill a large extent of the saline marshland.
Hypersaline conditions have been recorded during the dry season. During the wet season, salinity levels are much lower close to the levels of freshwater. The backshore of the Il-Ballut marshland is a sloping topography from the Tas-Silġ area. A watercourse meanders down from the Tas-Silġ area in the direction of the marshland.
An archaeological investigation in the Ballut area of Marsaxlokk, conducted by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, has yielded 64 individual artifacts, including a sizeable fragment of a Louterion — a decorative basin used for holding water for bathing or washing, usually mounted on a pedestal, and used in both domestic and sacred or ritual settings. alongside a collection of ceramics, metal, and stone artifacts scattered across the seabed. The investigation also clarified the nature of a previously identified but unstudied structure, now confirmed to have been meticulously designed, indicating the presence of a wall.
Louteria are typical of the Greek Late Archaic period of the 6th and 5th centuries BC and are adorned with intricate designs, including horse-drawn chariots along the rim. although non-Greek Indigenous cultures in the Central Mediterranean had also adapted Louteria to their needs. It is believed that the louteria was first conceived by the Phoenicians who have left memorable traces throughout the Mediterranean basin.
Historically, Il-Magħluq has been linked to salt production, with its shallow waters clearly marked on 19th-century maps and depicted in early 20th-century photographs. The 1911 Ordnance Survey, however, referred to the area as “fishponds,” suggesting a more complex history that included aquaculture.
The concentration of material in a small, specific area highlights the site’s exceptional archaeological sensitivity, necessitating both stringent protective measures and further investigation. Although some material may have been displaced through wave action, the depth at which the materials were found suggests that they were discovered in their primary context i.e., they were discarded or deposited in the same location where they were discovered.
Discovering this sanctuary is worth the trip to Malta to discover its historical importance.
It is a small island located in the Mediterranean south of Sicily, serving as a strategic maritime base for the Mediterranean and North Africa. It has an advanced, innovation-driven economy, and it is considered a high-income country. As a member of the European Union and of the Eurozone, their currency is the Euro. English is widely spoken, in addition to Maltese, and many speak Italian as a third language. Maltese is a “Westernized” Arabic dialect influenced by the Sicilian language. Similar to Lebanese Arabic, they are the only 2 forms of Arabic that can be written in the Latin alphabet.
Malta is rich in history, culture, and diversity, famous for its art, local artifacts, architecture, and old temples. The culture is a fascinating blend of Near Eastern and North African influences, reflected in its culinary diversity and lively festivals. The Maltese have a strong sense of community and are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. They have one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
It is famous for its authentic Nopal (prickly pear) liqueur, with its filigree jewelry. This craft is retained in Senegal, Yemen, Malta, and Lebanon, dating back to the Phoenicians. It has a thriving Western movie industry. Its close connection to ancient Phoenician culture is overwhelming, retaining traces until today:
The country’s DNA confirms its roots through Sicilian settlers of a strong Near-Eastern sub-culture. Its first inhabitants came from Sicily, and they were mainly fishermen, farmers, and hunters. The first communes and villages mostly lived in caves. In 4,000 BC the distinguished period in Maltese history began, when it is believed that the first megalithic temples were built. The Ġgantija Temples are older than the pyramids of Egypt! They are unique in the world.
The foundations of its city Mdina date back to the Bronze Age. Previously known as Melita, the ancient Punic city, it extended from today’s Mdina to St. Paul’s Church in the suburb of Rabat.
The most important Phoenician legacy in Malta is literacy. Malta became literate and well-known with the arrival of the Phoenicians who developed the first alphabet well before the Greeks. The Greeks distinguished them from the remaining Semites of the Near East for the expensive purple color used in their textile industry. Another theory is for their creation of the alphabet (phonetic) for trade and commerce. They consistently identified themselves as the original Canaanites, or “Kena’ani”.
It was through one of the famous Phoenician Cippi ornamental pillars offered as a present to Louis XVI, that the Phoenician language was eventually deciphered. They are said to have first settled on the island of Gozo in Malta around 3,600 BC, inhabiting the whole island to make use of its sheltered harbors. With the ascendency of Carthage in the western Mediterranean, Malta became a Punic colony around 480 BC.
Since 1565 AD, Phoenician origins have been attributed to the Maltese people and their customs. Their affinity is certainly to the Lebanese Christians in modern-day Lebanon.
Sammy RNAJ
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