Abbatija Tad-Dejr
Encyclopedia
The Abbatija Tad-Dejr hypogeal complex
is a paleochristian burial site in Rabat
, Malta
.
Although much smaller in size than those of Rome
, the catacombs
in Malta, especially the ones in Rabat, are among the most important early Christian burial sites south of Rome.
The site is managed by Heritage Malta
and is currently closed for conservation.
History=
The early catacombs comprised a singular shaft and chamber tombs dug from the vertical face of a quarry. Between the fourth and the ninth centuries AD, four larger complexes were added.
The most important of the four small catacombs is the largest one; with its rows of carefully placed baldacchino
tombs, it is possibly one of the few catacombs that saw some sort of pre-planning during excavations. Baldacchino tombs are often considered to be the richest out of the array of tomb types found in Maltese catacombs; at least three of such tombs in this complex are heavily decorated with relief
s.
In the post-Roman period, the largest catacomb was enlarged and turned into a small church.
Uses=
The presence in the hypogeum of a stone altar
and the number of crosses carved into the rock surface suggest early Christian
use. A fresco
that, until recently, decorated the apse
over the supposed location of the original altar is now housed in the National Museum of Fine Arts
.
The catacombs underwent various other phases of use. Amongst other uses, they were used as cow pens and for the quarrying of stone used in the production of lime. The latter has resulted in extensive damage. Some of the truncated shaft and chamber burials can be viewed from the low roof of the quarry.
Hypogeum
Hypogeum or hypogaeum literally means "underground", from Greek hypo and gaia . It usually refers to an underground, non-Christian temple or a tomb...
is a paleochristian burial site in Rabat
Rabat, Malta
Rabat is a village just outside Mdina, Malta. The name of the village is derived from the Arabic word for 'suburb': الرباط, as it was the suburb of the old capital Mdina. Half of the present-day village core also formed part of the Roman city of Melita, before the latter was resized during the...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
.
Although much smaller in size than those of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, the catacombs
Catacombs
Catacombs, human-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place can be described as a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman empire...
in Malta, especially the ones in Rabat, are among the most important early Christian burial sites south of Rome.
The site is managed by Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta is the Maltese national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. Created by the Cultural Heritage Act, enacted in 2002, the national agency replaced the former Museums Department....
and is currently closed for conservation.
History=
The early catacombs comprised a singular shaft and chamber tombs dug from the vertical face of a quarry. Between the fourth and the ninth centuries AD, four larger complexes were added.
The most important of the four small catacombs is the largest one; with its rows of carefully placed baldacchino
Baldachin
A baldachin, or baldaquin , is a canopy of state over an altar or throne. It had its beginnings as a cloth canopy, but in other cases it is a sturdy, permanent architectural feature, particularly over high altars in cathedrals, where such a structure is more correctly called a ciborium when it is...
tombs, it is possibly one of the few catacombs that saw some sort of pre-planning during excavations. Baldacchino tombs are often considered to be the richest out of the array of tomb types found in Maltese catacombs; at least three of such tombs in this complex are heavily decorated with relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
s.
In the post-Roman period, the largest catacomb was enlarged and turned into a small church.
Uses=
The presence in the hypogeum of a stone altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
and the number of crosses carved into the rock surface suggest early Christian
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
use. A fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
that, until recently, decorated the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
over the supposed location of the original altar is now housed in the National Museum of Fine Arts
National Museum of Fine Arts
National Museum of Fine Arts may refer to:*Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts in Chile*Nationalmuseum in Sweden*Museu Nacional de Belas Artes in Brazil*Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes , Argentina...
.
The catacombs underwent various other phases of use. Amongst other uses, they were used as cow pens and for the quarrying of stone used in the production of lime. The latter has resulted in extensive damage. Some of the truncated shaft and chamber burials can be viewed from the low roof of the quarry.