National Library of Malta

Region	South Eastern
Building type	Historical Structure
Address	National Library of Malta, Valletta, Malta
Located Graffiti	Animals, Apotropaic Symbols, Buildings, Names or Initials, Numbers, Religious Iconography, Ship Graffiti, Symbols, Text

A prominent building with a long history. In 1555, the building was designated to be the treasury of the Order where books belonging to the Order of St John were kept. In the 18th century the building was opened as a public library owing to the large collection of books housed within. It was then called the ‘Bibliotheca Publica’. Since then, the books kept in the building were more of a notarial and legal subject, especially during the reign of King George V when the Public Registry was kept there. Nowadays, the National Library of Malta is utilised as a reference library and notarial archive by the public.

Gallery

A large and detailed ship graffito of a three-masted ship. One row of open gun ports is depicted.

A small ship graffito that seems to be of the Knight’s period typology. Three masts carry lateen sails.

The hull of a seacraft can be identified among other superimposed graffiti.

Measuring only 5cm, this ship graffito is elaborately defined. The etchings seem to be filled in with black colour. The square rigging is complete with shrouds.

A ship graffito that has a well-defined hull form with rigging. It is accompanied by another graffito of the anthropogenic type.

A relatively rare addition of an anchor to a square-rigged ship. This example is superimposing another graffiti of the anthropogenic type.

A small ship graffito measuring only 4-5cm.

This ship graffito gives the impression that the artist wanted to depict action. Additional features may be representing a scene of a dismasted ship. The graffito is slightly damaged.

A small ship graffito showing the hull and some rigging.

Multiple ship graffiti are present in close proximity to each other. The stone is damaged thus also making it difficult to make out some examples of ship graffiti.