Great Siege Monument - Valletta, Malta - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

In 1566 the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the island of Malta for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. About 2000 Knights of St. John and 400 Maltese men, women, and children repelled the Ottoman Turks thus destroying the myth of Ottoman invincibility. The Great Siege Monument commemorates the fallen of the Great Siege.

The monument has three bronze allegorical figures symbolizing Faith, Valor or Fortitude, and Civilization. In the center of the group is the tallest of the three figures, a male figure representing Valor of Fortitude. He is depicted bare-chested and wearing a helmet. He is holding a sword and shield in front of him which is half his height. The shield has the Latin cross symbol of the Knights Hospitaller. The female figure to Valor's left represents Faith. She is wearing flowing robes and is holding a papal tiara in her right hand. The female figure to the Valor's right represents Civilization. She is also wearing flowing robes and holding a mask of Minerva, the Roman goddess of Wisdom, in her right hand.

The three figures are set on top of a tiered granite base which is inscribed MDLXV. The neoclassical style monument was created by Maltese sculptor Antonio Sciortino and was dedicated on May 8, 1927.

The monument was restored in 2010. It is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Great Siege Monument Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Antonio Sciortino Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: May 8, 1927 Materials used: Bronze figures; granite base Location: Great Siege Square on Republic Street, Valletta, Malta

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/08/2024 castorka visited it 03/20/2023 Walking Boots visited it 09/27/2022 lynx36 visited it 09/22/2021 greysman visited it 03/02/2020 Rymyhomie visited it 12/16/2019 Fred_26_86 visited it

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