Emmanuel Magri SJ, Ruins of a Megalithic Temple at Xeuchia (Shewkiyah) Gozo. First report., ed. by Charles Cini SBD, introduction and notes by Josef Mario Briffa SJ, photograph by Daniel Cilia. Malta: Salesians of Don Bosco & Heritage Malta, 2009. 88pp, €40.
If you would like to buy a copy, please contact directly:
Fr. Charles Cini SDB, St Patrick’s Salesian School, St John Bosco Street, Sliema SLM 1925
Tel: +356 2133 7572 – Mob: +356 7949 2555 or email: charlescini[at]gmail.com
Proceeds from this publication are in aid of St Patrick’s Salesian School.
Facsimile edition of Fr Emmanuel Magri’s Report on Xewkija Excavation
20/03/09
As part of the initiative to produce cultural publications of general interest about Malta’s heritage and culture, the Salesians of Don Bosco and Heritage Malta are publishing a limited facsimile edition of Fr. Emmanuel Magri’s, Ruins of a Megalithic Temple at Xeuchia, First Report, edited by Fr Charles Cini SDB, with photography and design by Daniel Cilia, and historical introduction and notes by Josef Mario Briffa SJ.
Originally published in 1906, the report describes the excavations undertaken of a megalithic temple in Xewkija, Gozo, under Fr. Magri’s direction, in October 1904. Fr. Magri, better known for his collection of folktales and folklore, was also an archaeologist, and first director of the excavation of the Hypogeum. This report witnesses to Fr. Magri’s scholarship, his use of local traditions and his pioneering work on the study and classification of potsherds.
The present edition includes the original watercolour plates of the sherds, being published in colour for the first time, after more than 100 years. Details of the watercolours and photos of the actual sherds are included for comparison. The publication is further enriched with archival material relating to the same excavation.
Further other initiatives are being planned at the moment between the Salesians and Heritage Malta. In 2008, they published a reproduction of the fresco of the Great Siege Map done in 1581-82 by Egnazio Danti found in the Galleria Vaticana delle Carte Geografiche.
Edizzjoni facsimile tar-Rapport fuq l-iskavi fix-Xewkija, ta’ Patri Manwel Magri
20/03/09
Bħala parti mill-inizjattiva li jippubblikaw materjal t’interess generali dwar il-wirt kulturali Malti, is-Sależjani ta’ Don Bosco u Heritage Malta qegħdin joħorġu din l-edizzjoni facsimile limitata ta’ Ruins of a Megalithic Temple at Xeuchia, First Report, ta’ Patri Manwel Magri, edizzjoni ikkurata minn Patri Charles Cini SDB, b’fotografija u disinn ta’ Daniel Cilia, u introduzzjoni u noti storiċi ta’ Josef Mario Briffa SJ.
Dan ir-rapport, li ġie ppublikat għall-ewwel darba fl-1906, jiddeskrivi l-iskavi ta’ fdalijiet ta’ tempju megalitiku fix-Xewkija, Għawdex, taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Patri Magri, fl-1904. Patri Magri, li jibqa’ l-iżjed magħruf għall-ġabra ta’ ħrejjef u kitbiet dwar folklor Malti, kien ukoll arkeologu u l-ewwel direttur ta’ l-iskavi ta’ l-Ipoġew f’Ħal Saflieni. Ir-rapport jixhed għall-kompetenza ta’ Patri Magri, l-użu li għamel ta’ tradizzjonijiet lokali, u xogħol fl-istudju u l-klassifikazzjoni ta’ biċċiet tal-fuħħar, fejn Magri kien pijunier.
Din l-edizzjoni tinkludi l-akwarelli oriġinali bit-tpinġija tal-fuħħar, li qiegħdin jiġu ppubblikati bil-kulur għall-ewwel darba, wara iżjed minn 100 sena. Dettalji tal-akwarelli u ritratti tal-fuħħar jagħtu l-possibilita lill-qarrej jqabbel u jara l-kwalita tad-disinn. Materjal minn arkivji, inklużi f’dal-ktieb, jixtħu iżjed dawl fuq l-iskav innifsu.
Inizzjattivi kulturali oħra bejn is-Sależjani u Heritage Malta qed jiġu mħejjija. Fl-2008, ġiet ippublikata ripproduzzjoni ta’ l-affresk tal-mappa ta’ l-Assedju l-Kbir, magħmula fl-1581/82 minn Egnazio Dante, li tinsab fil-Galleria Vaticana delle Carte Geografiche.
In the press:
https://timesofmalta.com/article/limited-edition-of-xewkija-temple-report-being-published.249604
[post published originally on magri.jesuit.org.mt, 20 March 2009]
Nova et vetera 