Abstract
Malta, Gozo and Comino, the Thrinacia of Homer and the Melitē, Phoebe and Lampas of Scylax, form an archipelago in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea inhabited by both Phoenicians and Greeks before the coming of the Romans to those islands. Many geographers mention them, but other authors refer to their importance as places of production of textiles and other natural goods like oil and honey. Of particular importance was the site of the temple of Juno and Hercules known to Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans as well as to Numidians. Malta and Gozo were also praised for their good harbors and stone. The Grand Harbour itself served as an important Byzantine base with its tower and inner harbour, both places bearing Greek names. Malta was converted to Christianity in AD 60 following St Paul’s shipwreck there, where he spent three winter months. The aim of this article is to scrutinize the information about Malta and Gozo in numerous Greek, Roman and Christian sources.
Highlights
Malta and Gozo were praised for their good harbors and stone
One encounters around Malta various islets, like Filfla’s Islet, Għallis Rocks in the north-east and Delimara Point’s Islet in the south-east; around Gozo, Fungus Rock and other islets in the West, Ġebel tal-Ħalfa and other islets in the south-east, and Fessej Rock in the South; and around Comino, islets by Cominotto and others in the north
Government became organized in both islands, and municipalities are attested to have existed by extant inscriptions written in both Phoenician and Greek2. This harmonious co-existence in Malta and Gozo of two different peoples in conflict with each other in nearby Sicily is confirmed by bilingual dedication to common gods3
Summary
Gozo ir Komino salos, sudarančios salyną centrinėje Viduržemio jūros dalyje, yra glaudžiai susijusios su antikine tradicija. Homeras visas šias salas vadino Trinakija, Skilakas – Melite, Febe ir Lampada. Salos buvo apgyvendintos finikiečių ir graikų, minimos daugelio autorių, kurie nurodo jas buvus svarbiais tekstilės, aliejaus ir medaus gamybos centrais. Malta dar buvo garsi Junonos ir Heraklio šventykla, žinoma ne tik graikams ir romėnams, bet ir finikiečiams, ir net numidams. Antikos laikais Malta ir Gozo taip pat garsėjo patogiomis įlankomis ir akmens kasyklomis. Vadinamoji Didžioji įlanka, saugoma gynybinio bokšto, buvo Bizantijos laivyno uostas. 60 metais, prie Maltos krantų sudužus šv. Straipsnyje nagrinėjama Antikos ir krikščionių autorių pateikiama informacija apie Maltos ir Gozo salas. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Malta, Gozo, Viduržemio archeologija, istorija, literatūra, geografija. The Islands of Malta and Gozo in Greek and Roman History and Literature
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