HERITAGE MALTA

Shared Identities - the future in the past

For the CEO of Heritage Malta, the past is a foretelling. When Showcase Dubai caught up with NOEL ZAMMIT, he spoke with passion about the rich cultural past of the islands and the way they are being made accessible.

‘Look around with your eyes. Is there anything on earth which can stay or repel death? Death took me away from my palace, and, alas, neither doors nor bars could save me from it. I have become a pledge, carrying my past with me for my redemption, and that which I have achieved remains.’

The poignant epitaph on a young Muslim woman’s tombstone lamenting the impermanence of life rings true down the ages. Maimūnah, daughter of Hassān, son of ‘Ali al-Hudali, known as Ibn as-Susi was laid to rest on Thursday 16th day of the month of Sha’ban in the year 569 of the Islamic Calendar (21st of March 1174).

THE MAIMŪNAH STONE

Her intricately carved tombstone in the Kufic script, chiselled into the reverse of an upcycled ancient Roman slab of marble, is the only Islamic funerary stone in Malta of its period to be still intact in its original size and the only one which presents a date. The provenance of this singular artefact is shrouded in mystery. According to oral tradition, the tombstone was found in an area between Xewkija and Sannat on the Island on Gozo, which is still topographically referred to today as Ta’ Majmuna. However, the earliest reference to the stone is in a report by Count Ciantar in 1772, who saw it embedded in the Valletta courtyard of a local Antiquarian. In 1960 the Maimūnah stone was returned to Gozo, where it remains as the star exhibit in Heritage Malta’s Gozo Museum of Archaeology.

The Majmuna Stone

MUŻA

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Malta’s strategic geographical position on the crossroads between Europe and Africa, its unique history as a melting pot of so many civilisations, its diverse hybrid culture and stable economic relations are principal keystones which have determined Malta’s geopolitical relevance as a European and Mediterranean island State over the ages.

Now, eight centuries after her demise, Maimūnah’s tombstone is leaving Maltese shores for the very first time on an ambassadorial mission back to its spiritual home.

“Cultural heritage has always been a facilitator for dialogue, reconciliation, and for strengthening bilateral relations In this respect Maimūnah’s stele is a tangible symbol of the strong ties between Malta and the Arab world,” Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta CEO emphasises. It is an artefact charged with meaning, offering different interpretations based on one’s cultural baggage. It is for this reason that it should serve as an ambassador in such an international rendering and serves as a link for dialogue between cultures.

INTANGIBLE HERITAGE

However, tangible cultural heritage is not the only point of contact. Language, food and ethnography present alternative ways of interpreting history in their role as intangible tools of cultural exchange. The Maltese language is the only official Semitic language in the European Union, another bridge of shared identities that make Malta a natural stepping stone and intermediary between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

As another intangible asset, Heritage Malta launched Taste History, a culinary experience, using food as the medium of dialogue and communication. This service goes beyond a simple tasting experience. The senses are used to express that which mere words cannot communicate.

Finally, one cannot remove the experiential aspect of cultural heritage. Heritage Malta is at the forefront in positioning the Islands as a cultural destination. Heritage is not only promoted on its own merits but is also marketed as an outstanding location for conference travel, location shoots, corporate events, weddings, exhibitions, fine dining events, product launches, seminars, and fashion shows in one of Heritage Malta’s exclusive historical venues.

Scuba diving near the ‘Liberator’

Taste History Ġgantija Temples

STRATEGIC LOCATION

Malta’s strategic geographical position on the crossroads between Europe and Africa, its unique history as a melting pot of so many civilisations, its diverse hybrid culture and stable economic relations are principal keystones which have determined Malta’s geopolitical relevance as a European and Mediterranean island State over the ages.

With a portfolio including neolithic temples, baroque auberges and palaces, catacombs, forts, and a maritime museum, Heritage Malta is ideally placed to host international organisations and meetings against a dramatic historical backdrop.

The digitisation of the national collection, interpretation centres, education programmes targeted at children, temporary exhibitions, a fully-fledged publications department, in-house online masterclasses and webinars, documentaries, public lectures, interactive events, heritage trails, student and senior passports help to bring Malta’s vibrant heritage to life.

Having notched up two decades of experience in the field, but tracing its origins back to 1903, and with extensive resources at its disposal, Heritage Malta is the expert to count on in the heritage sector. The agency’s services outreach includes cultural heritage and archaeological consultancy, archaeological monitoring, surveying and photogrammetry.

With its exclusive venues, museum and sites, its taste history venture, its professional team of highly respected curators, architects, conservators, and restorers, Heritage Malta welcomes you to join the future in a spectacular past. n

For further information, visit www.heritagemalta.org, www.tastehistory.org and www.exclusivevenues.org

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With its exclusive venues, museum and sites, its taste history venture, its professional team of highly respected curators, architects, conservators, and restorers, Heritage Malta welcomes you to join the future in a spectacular past.