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For the first time since their celebrated display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Cippi of Malta are reunited once again, this time at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. This exhibition runs until 31st March 2025.The Cippi, two marble pillars from the 2nd century BC, hold immense historical significance due to the bilingual Phoenician and Greek inscriptions they bear. These inscriptions were pivotal in the decipherment of the Phoenician script by French scholar Jean-Jacques Barthélemy in 1758.
In 1782, one of the Cippi was gifted to France by Grand Master de Rohan as a gesture of scholarly and diplomatic exchange. Since then, it has resided at the Louvre Museum in Paris, while its twin remained in Valletta. Their temporary reunion at the Louvre Abu Dhabi last year marked a historic cultural partnership between Malta and the United Arab Emirates. Now, thanks to a collaboration with the Louvre, the Cippi are once again on Maltese soil, enabling further public engagement with these iconic relics.
The exhibition also illuminates ongoing mysteries about the Cippi’s origins, as scholars continue to explore when and how they first arrived in Malta. Visitors are invited to connect with both the distant past and the modern history of these timeless monuments. An illustrated accompanying publication is also available for purchase.
Admission to the exhibition is included with the museum ticket. The museum is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 until 5th January 2025, after which it will be closed on Tuesdays till the end of February. Further updates about opening hours can be found here: https://heritagemalta.mt/opening-hours/
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
National Museum of Archaeology, Malta, Häagen-Dazs, Triq ir-Repubblika, Valletta, VLT, Malta,Valletta, Malta
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