Wied il-Qlejgħa Chapel

Region	Northern
Building type	Place of Worship
Address	Chapel of St Paul (tal-Qlejja), Mosta, Malta
Located Graffiti	Animals, Anthropomorphic, Dates, Names or Initials, Regimental, Religious Iconography, Ship Graffiti, Symbols, Text

The chapel called San Pawl tal-Qlejgħa is situated in Chadwick Lakes. This chapel is dedicated to Saint Paul Apostle, hence the name. The graffiti etched onto this chapel takes the form of dates, palms of hands and other iconography. Amongst these, ship graffiti however, is the most prominent. A ship graffito measuring about 165cm long can be seen on the front wall of the chapel.

Gallery

Stonemason’s Mark - A mark in the shape of a cross incised into a stone block likely being a stonemason’s mark on the chapel’s northeast-facing wall.

Defaced Insignia - A graffito of two upward-facing arrows and a quartered square in between. The numbers ‘1978’ are etched under the square which likely signifies a date. The graffito has been scratched multiple times giving the impression that it has been defaced. The graffito is located on the Northeast-facing wall of the chapel.

Ship Graffiti - A simple line graffito of a two-masted ship spanning across multiple stone blocks located on the chapel’s northeast-facing wall.

Ship Graffiti - An unrealistic impression of a masted ship located on the northeast-facing wall of the chapel.

Ship Graffiti - A photo showing the relationship among the three ship graffiti on the northeast-facing wall of the chapel.

Animal Graffiti - A bird and a snake have been etched into one stone block on the northeast-facing wall of the chapel.

Initials or Text - The underlined letters ‘L’ and ‘M’ have been incised in a lavish manner on a stone block located on the northeast-facing wall of the chapel.

Ship Graffiti and Text - Three sailing ship graffiti likely belonging to the Knights period have been incised into the northeast-facing wall. A string of letters can be seen in the middle, surrounded by the ship graffiti.

Symbol Graffiti - A spoked wheel incised in the facade of the chapel.

Ship Graffiti - A ship graffito measuring 165cm is located on the facade of the chapel, between the spoked wheel graffito and the chapel’s entrance. The ship has multiple masts and a row of cannon ports can be seen.

Initials or Text and Symbol - A semicircle containing text has been etched into one of the stone blocks framing the chapel’s front entrance. Located on the stone block underneath is an unconventional representation of the Maltese cross.

Ship Graffiti - A ship graffito has been etched into one of the stone blocks framing the chapel’s front entrance.

Ship Graffiti - A three masted ship graffito can be seen on the facade of the church. This representation has been endowed with a row of piths and several incised lines. The ship seems to be carrying a chequered flag.

Ship Graffiti - On the stone block underneath the ship graffito featuring the chequered flag belongs yet another ship graffito. This ship also has a row of piths and a mast.

Ship Graffiti - Another ship graffito has been etched on the facade of the church featuring a row of cannon ports and multiple masts. Some of the ship’s mainstays have been etched as well.

Symbol (Wheat?) - A depiction of a sheaf of wheat can be faintly seen on the chapel’s facade. This is accompanied by the numbers ‘1’ and ‘8’. This graffito can be hardly recognised and will soon be lost to erosion.

Wied il-Qlejgħa Chapel

Gallery

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