Magnificent St. Paul’s Catacombs – Largest Underground Roman Cemetery In Malta

Conny Waters -  AncientPages.com - St. Paul’s Catacombs provide us with the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta.

The ancient Roman burial site is the largest and most impressive underground cemetery in the country. The site is open to the public and visitors can access over 20 of the catacombs in the St Paul's cluster.

A journey through this underground labyrinth of rock-cut tombs, narrow stairs, and passages gives a good understanding of ancient Roman and Phoenician burial traditions and customs.

St. Paul’s catacombs in Rabat, Malta. Credit: G.Mannaerts, CC BY-SA 4.0

It’s estimated the first burial here took place in the 3^rd century B.C. and the tombs continued to be used until the 4^th century A.D.

Not all of the tombs belong to Christians. Within this underground complex, there are also several Pagan and Jewish burials.

Covering an area of more than 2000 square meters, St. Paul’s Catacombs are part of a vast cemetery once located outside the walls of the ancient Greek city of Melite, present-day Mdina.

St. Paul's Catacombs in Rabat, Malta. Credit: Balazs Sudar, CC BY-SA 3.0

Melite started its existence as a Bronze Age settlement before the Phoenicians re-named it Maleth and turned it into the administrative center of the island.

In 218 B.C. Romans successfully captured the city and it remained part of the Roman and later the Byzantine Empire until 870 A.D.

St Paul’s probably started as a smaller underground catacomb complex before it was subsequently enlarged by joining up neighboring hypogea to serve as a communal burial space.

According to tradition, Phoenicians and Romans didn’t want to bury their dead within the city walls and St. Paul’s Catacombs grew in size over time.

Menorah indicating the presence of Jewish burials, Credit: G.Mannaerts, CC BY-SA 4.0

In the late 1800s, scientists started to excavate the massive underground complex and St. Paul’s Catacombs are today excellent documented providing us with cultural, artistic, and social climates of the ancient Mediterranean world. Unfortunately, all tombs were already looted, and no burial artifacts have been discovered.

The site consists of two large areas called St Paul’s and Saints Paul/Agatha consisting of more than 30 hypogea.

Inside the main burial space, you will find a great hall and the impressive Baldacchino free-standing tombs.

The reason this magnificent underground burial complex has been named St Paul's Catacombs is that a Church nearby has this name.

Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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