Envisioning the Orient : the new Muslim cemetery in Malta

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to highlight the historical and architectural Significance of a unique nineteenth-century Muslim cemetery complex built under the auspices of the Ottoman sultan Abdülaziz (r. 1861-76). It is the final culmination of several Muslim cemeteries that were discreetly established on the island in various historical periods. The way in which a Muslim cemetery has been represented from a Western cultural perspective-through Orientalist imagery and the conceptual ideals of Romanticism-will be explored with specific reference to the establishment of this late Ottoman cemetery in a British island colony. However, prior to considering this subject in detail it would be useful to briefly trace the historical backdrop of the Muslim presence on the island.