The Christianisation of Malta : a discussion based on the available evidence

Abstract

Like many other Mediterranean communities, the Maltese had long been familiar with a varied pantheon of deities pertaining to pagan – largely Punic and Roman – religions during Classical antiquity. Then, during the late Roman occupation (4th-6th centuries AD) of Malta (fig. 1), one comes across the earliest known material or archaeological evidence of Christian presence in Malta. This evidence comprises a basilica church and a baptismal font at Tas- Silġ near Marsaxlokk, a shrine / chapel and the attached catacomb complex at L-Abbatija tad-Dejr in Rabat (Malta) and a number of other catacombs and hypogea in several places around Malta, most notably in the Rabat area. But a careful reading of this evidence would seem to lead us to an earlier Christian presence than a superficial reading might lead us to.