CHRISTIAN TOMBS
What we now define as early Christian tombs are actually Roman and Byzantine in origin. Such burial sites follow the same concept as catacombs of the time, albeit in a miniature scale.
These tombs may be found in many areas across Malta including Mosta.
Among the better known are those in Wied il-Ghasel, to the rear of Speranza Chapel, but several more have been documented over the years.
A number of these tombs were typically dug out of the rock, but at least one example situated at tal-Wej was rendered out of a rubble wall in the style of a miniature girna.
Unusual Paleo-Christian Tomb at tal-Wey, fashioned similarly to a small Girna
Christian symbols are present in both types.
The use of simple crosses to denote a Christian grave dates to around the beginning of the 4th Century AD. The eventual fall of Rome and growing Byzantine influence is evidenced by the introduction of crosses within circles and other Orthodox / Greek symbols such as the Kyros.
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