St Paul Shipwreck Chapel

Region	Northern
Building type	Place of Worship
Address	Kappella ta San Pawl, Triq Il-Kappella Ta Xaghra, Naxxar, Malta
Located Graffiti	Ship Graffiti

Built at the end of the 17th century, the chapel of the Shipwreck of St. Paul stands as a symbol of devotion of early Maltese Christians, where it is believed that it was in this very place that St. Paul first preached to the island’s inhabitants, and who were the first to hold this faith. On the parvis of the chapel is a large statue of St. Paul, built in 1770 and facing on the other side of the road is a column with a cross at the top which marks the site of an earlier church that was completely destroyed at the beginning of the 17th century. Both these churches overlook St. Paul’s islands, a view which can be enjoyed till this very day when visiting the chapel of the Shipwreck of St. Paul.

Gallery

Loss of this stone block’s surface has led to loss of the ship graffito. Only some etched lines remain.

Thin etched lines depict a large ship sailing under the power of square rigging. Its rigging resembles that of a Brig. This three masted ship predominantly dates to the 17th to 19th century.

A badly damaged ship graffito.

This ship graffito was etched in a different artistic style than other ship graffiti found in this location. Its hull is simple and decorated with a series of parallel lines. The rigging of the ship is no longer visible due to the addition and partial removal of plaster.

On the bottom left corner of the stone block, a section of the hull of a ship graffito is visible, underneath the plaster.

Etching of a ship with a beak and bowsprit. The bow of the ship is visible whilst the rest of the ship graffito is hidden under plaster.

A ship graffito depicting a ship with a tall freeboard and high stern. The rigging is difficult to interpret due to the graffito’s condition. Due to the position of the visible foremast, the ship carried two masts and a mizzen.

Work on the surface of the stone has damaged this ship graffito. The etchings show a ship in perspective, as seen from the portside stern. This three-masted ship has a flag bearing the Order’s Standard at the stern.

The etchings of a ship’s hull bear evidence of a ship graffito. Superimposing lines make it difficult to make out the typology of the ship depicted.

The ship graffito shows a ship with a high freeboard and voluminous hull. It has two masts with a mizzen at the aft. The main masts are square rigged.

The deeply etched lines of this ship graffito have led to its preservation after works were carried out on the surface of the stone. The hull is visible together with two masts.

This ship graffito is covered by plaster and largely obscured from vision. A part of the hull is visible at the bottom right corner of the stone.

A simple ship graffito showing an crude etching of a ship’s hull, complete with a flag bearing the Order’s Standard at the stern and the ship’s rigging. The hull of a secondary ship graffito is visible, superimposed by the rigging.

Etchings form the shape of a ship’s hull. This graffito is simple and only depicts the hull of the ship as seen from starboard.

Pitting on the stone’s surface from weathering has led to the loss of this ship graffito. Only the top portion of the three-masted lateen rigging is visible, complete with triangular flags at the top of each mast.

A small and simple ship graffito showing a ship with a voluminous hull. The ship has a bowsprit and a mainmast. It is unclear whether the ship carries a raked foremast. This graffito has been crossed out at a later point in time, after being etched.

St Paul Shipwreck Chapel

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