The Tombs of Our Fathers

You may all be wondering why I am sharing a photo of what seems to be a square cut out into the rocks. For many years these ‘formations’ puzzled me. When left to its own devices,  it is very rare for nature to form squares. But finally the mystery, such as it was, was solved. A few years ago I met a lady who explained who had made these squares. What we are seeing today is actually the top of a shaft that was cut into the rock. The shaft descends vertically to a tomb that is dug at right angles to the shaft and straight into the rock. From artifacts found inside the tombs it was concluded that they date back to Punic times. Appropriately, the tombs  face the setting sun. It all seems so obvious now that I wonder how I never figured it out for myself.

Punic Tomb,  Mtarfa

Snapshots of … Wied iz-Zurrieq (in Winter)

This rocky inlet located in the south-west of Malta is a favourite fishing spot with many. On calm days, colourful  Maltese boats bob about lazily in the water – a picture of complete serenity.

But in winter, the fury of the sea is not to be trifled with and on windy days, the boats are safely brought to shore to wait for more opportune weather.

One must certainly exercise caution and stay away from the water because, as all those of us brought up here know, it has a very fickle nature.

In the distance, the island of Filfla seems so close that it feels as if you can almost reach out and touch it.

Zurrieq is derived from the Semitic word zoroq which means blue. Quite an appropriate name, would’t you say?

Location: Wied iz-Zurrieq, December 2008 &  January 2010