Remains of Byzantine Basilica at Tas-Silg
Tas-Silġ
(Maltese for ‘of Snows’) is one of the most ancient religious sites in Malta, and took the name of a small church dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows. Here we find remains of prehistoric temples dating back to at least 2,800 BC; and of a 5thcentury AD Byzantine Basilica. In the 5th century the Byzantines, Orthodox Catholics, erected a Basilica on this site. Once the Christian Church became the established religion of the Empire, it used to consecrate pagan temples in honour of its saints, martyrs and the Blessed Virgin. Today, only some traces of the Basilica remain, as seen in this photo.
+© Courtesy of Heritage Malta – Photographer Steve Psaila