The Great Siege Monument (Maltese: Il-Monument tal-Assedju l-Kbir), also known as the Monument to the Fallen of the Great Siege,[1] is a monument commemorating the Great Siege of Malta located in Valletta, Malta. It consists of three bronze figures symbolizing Faith, Fortitude (or Valour), and Civilization, standing on top of a granite base. The monument is the work of the sculptor Antonio Sciortino, and it was inaugurated on 8 May 1927.[2]
The Great Siege Monument was sculpted by Antonio Sciortino in 1926, while he was in Rome. It was then cast in bronze using the lost-wax method, and the monument was inaugurated in Valletta on 8 May 1927.[3] During the inauguration, Chief Justice Arturo Mercieca delivered his speech in Italian, while the priest, philosopher and poet Anastasio Cuschieri delivered a speech in Maltese, both in the presence of the British Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Thomas Alexander Vans Best. This illustrated the language question and the political tension of the time.[1]
The monument is located in Great Siege Square (Maltese: Misraħ l-Assedju l-Kbir)[3] along Valletta's main road, Republic Street (Maltese: Triq ir-Repubblika) by the side of Saint John's Co-Cathedral.[4] The monument originally faced Auberge d'Auvergne,[5] which was replaced by the Courts of Justice building in the 1960s after the original building had been severely damaged in World War II.[4]
The Great Siege Monument appeared on three Maltese stamps issued in 1956, 1962 and 1972.[6] It also featured on the Maltese50 cent coin that was minted from 1972 until it was replaced in 1986.[7]
Since October 2017, the monument has been used as a makeshift memorial to journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by members of her family and anti-government protesters.[10][11] For a while the tributes were removed on a daily basis by Government employees.[12] In 2020, a court decision found that the then Minister for Justice Owen Bonnici's orders to repeatedly clear the memorial were a violation of protestors' human rights for the freedom of expression.[13]
Descriptionedit
The three figures from left to right: Faith, Fortitude (or Valour), and CivilizationParliamentary chamber of the Palazzo Montecitorio, with La Glorificazione della Dinastia Sabauda at the top. The three figures in the centre of the relief resemble the positioning of the Great Siege Monument figures
The Great Siege Monument is considered to be a work of Neoclassical sculpture,[3] exhibiting powerful simple lines which hint at Sciortino's avant-garde style. It has been called "one of the most emblematic sculptures on the island".[1] The statue consists of three bronze figures set on top of a granite base.[5][3] The positioning of the figures relates closely to Davide Calandra's relief La Glorificazione della Dinastia Sabauda at the Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome.[1]
The three figures are said to be allegorical representations of Faith, Fortitude (or Valour), and Civilization.[5] The male figure in the centre is described as Fortitude[3] or Valour,[14] and he is portrayed bare-chested and wearing a three-pointed crown and some armour, while holding a sword and a shield. There is a female figure on either side, with Faith on the left and Civilization on the right. Faith holds a papal tiara, while Civilization holds a mask of Minerva, the Roman goddess of Wisdom.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdMuscat, Mark Geoffrey (2016). "The Influence of Art Deco and Italian Futurism". Maltese Architecture 1900–1970: Progress and Innovations. Valletta: Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. p. 43. ISBN9789990932065.
^Meilak, Daniel. "David versus Goliath and the Apotheosis of Malta: Romanticising the Siege of Malta during the Rise of Nationalism (1860-1939)". Melita Historica. XVII (1): 140–172.
^ abcdefg(PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2020.
^ abc. Times of Malta. 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017.
^Said Malta Coin & Banknote Catalogue 2010. Valletta: Said International Ltd. 2010. p. 114. ISBN9789990943269.
^. Times of Malta. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017.
^. The Malta Independent. 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017.
^. Malta Today. 16 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018.
^Xuereb, Matthew (11 February 2018). . Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018.
^Bonnici, Julian (2 December 2019). "Daphne Caruana Galizia Memorial Cleared Yet Again Less Than 24 Hours After Thousands Gathered In Valletta Calling For Immediate Resignations". Lovin Malta.
^Borg, Jacob (1 February 2020). . Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020.
^. Din l-Art Ħelwa. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017.
External linksedit
Media related to Great Siege Monument at Wikimedia Commons
April 12, 2024
great, siege, monument, maltese, monument, assedju, kbir, also, known, monument, fallen, great, siege, monument, commemorating, great, siege, malta, located, valletta, malta, consists, three, bronze, figures, symbolizing, faith, fortitude, valour, civilization. The Great Siege Monument Maltese Il Monument tal Assedju l Kbir also known as the Monument to the Fallen of the Great Siege 1 is a monument commemorating the Great Siege of Malta located in Valletta Malta It consists of three bronze figures symbolizing Faith Fortitude or Valour and Civilization standing on top of a granite base The monument is the work of the sculptor Antonio Sciortino and it was inaugurated on 8 May 1927 2 Great Siege MonumentMaltese Il Monument tal Assedju l KbirThe monument in 2017ArtistAntonio SciortinoCompletion date8 May 1927 1927 05 08 MediumBronzeMovementNeoclassicalLocationValletta MaltaCoordinates35 53 52 9 N 14 30 45 1 E 35 898028 N 14 512528 E 35 898028 14 512528 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia at the base of the monument in November 2017The Great Siege Monument was sculpted by Antonio Sciortino in 1926 while he was in Rome It was then cast in bronze using the lost wax method and the monument was inaugurated in Valletta on 8 May 1927 3 During the inauguration Chief Justice Arturo Mercieca delivered his speech in Italian while the priest philosopher and poet Anastasio Cuschieri delivered a speech in Maltese both in the presence of the British Lieutenant Governor Sir Thomas Alexander Vans Best This illustrated the language question and the political tension of the time 1 The monument is located in Great Siege Square Maltese Misraħ l Assedju l Kbir 3 along Valletta s main road Republic Street Maltese Triq ir Repubblika by the side of Saint John s Co Cathedral 4 The monument originally faced Auberge d Auvergne 5 which was replaced by the Courts of Justice building in the 1960s after the original building had been severely damaged in World War II 4 The Great Siege Monument appeared on three Maltese stamps issued in 1956 1962 and 1972 6 It also featured on the Maltese 50 cent coin that was minted from 1972 until it was replaced in 1986 7 The monument was restored between August 8 and September 2010 4 9 It is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 3 Since October 2017 the monument has been used as a makeshift memorial to journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by members of her family and anti government protesters 10 11 For a while the tributes were removed on a daily basis by Government employees 12 In 2020 a court decision found that the then Minister for Justice Owen Bonnici s orders to repeatedly clear the memorial were a violation of protestors human rights for the freedom of expression 13 Description edit nbsp The three figures from left to right Faith Fortitude or Valour and Civilization nbsp Parliamentary chamber of the Palazzo Montecitorio with La Glorificazione della Dinastia Sabauda at the top The three figures in the centre of the relief resemble the positioning of the Great Siege Monument figuresThe Great Siege Monument is considered to be a work of Neoclassical sculpture 3 exhibiting powerful simple lines which hint at Sciortino s avant garde style It has been called one of the most emblematic sculptures on the island 1 The statue consists of three bronze figures set on top of a granite base 5 3 The positioning of the figures relates closely to Davide Calandra s relief La Glorificazione della Dinastia Sabauda at the Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome 1 The three figures are said to be allegorical representations of Faith Fortitude or Valour and Civilization 5 The male figure in the centre is described as Fortitude 3 or Valour 14 and he is portrayed bare chested and wearing a three pointed crown and some armour while holding a sword and a shield There is a female figure on either side with Faith on the left and Civilization on the right Faith holds a papal tiara while Civilization holds a mask of Minerva the Roman goddess of Wisdom 3 References edit a b c d Muscat Mark Geoffrey 2016 The Influence of Art Deco and Italian Futurism Maltese Architecture 1900 1970 Progress and Innovations Valletta Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti p 43 ISBN 9789990932065 Meilak Daniel David versus Goliath and the Apotheosis of Malta Romanticising the Siege of Malta during the Rise of Nationalism 1860 1939 Melita Historica XVII 1 140 172 a b c d e f g Great Siege Monument PDF National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 28 December 2012 Archived from the original PDF on 7 January 2020 a b c Great Siege monument restored Times of Malta 7 September 2010 Archived from the original on 3 November 2017 a b c Nelson Nina 1978 Malta London Batsford ISBN 0 7134 0941 X The JB Catalogue of Malta Stamps and Postal History 22 ed Sliema Sliema Stamp Shop Publishers 2014 pp 18 20 31 Said Malta Coin amp Banknote Catalogue 2010 Valletta Said International Ltd 2010 p 114 ISBN 9789990943269 FimBank sponsors restoration of Great Siege monument Times of Malta 5 August 2010 Archived from the original on 3 November 2017 Restored Great Siege Monument unveiled The Malta Independent 7 September 2010 Archived from the original on 3 November 2017 Candles for Daphne Caruana Galizia at Valletta memorial Malta Today 16 January 2018 Archived from the original on 16 January 2018 Xuereb Matthew 11 February 2018 Valletta mayor says council has no power to decide on Caruana Galizia memorial Times of Malta Archived from the original on 12 February 2018 Bonnici Julian 2 December 2019 Daphne Caruana Galizia Memorial Cleared Yet Again Less Than 24 Hours After Thousands Gathered In Valletta Calling For Immediate Resignations Lovin Malta Borg Jacob 1 February 2020 Minister s breach of rights is a throwback to Lorry Sant Times of Malta Archived from the original on 25 May 2020 The Great Siege Monument in Valletta Din l Art Ħelwa 6 October 2011 Archived from the original on 29 March 2017 External links edit nbsp Media related to Great Siege Monument at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great Siege Monument amp oldid 1123533165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
