Ruins of a megalithic temple at Xeuchia (Shewkijah) Gozo : first report

Abstract

Xeuchia (Shewkiyah) is situated on an eminence between the Rabat main road and the great geological fault, facing the S.W. cliffs of Gozo. Its inhabitants claim for their village the honour of having been the seat of the first settlers in the island of Gozo. They still point out the caves where their chief (esh-shiekh) administered justice and had culprits kept in custody. "Ghar ish-shiekh" and "el Habs" are natural caves on the top of the table-land overlooking Wied Hanzirah and Mgiarr ix-Xini (Mjarr esh-Shini). · II Habs is very deep and sinuous. Local tradition records the existence of an ancient pagan temple close to the parish church of the village; it mentions also its golden calf, the seat for the Shiekh of the village, and the belief that people who were in the temple heard the voice of St. Paul the Apostle preaching in Malta. In these Islands the local tradition of a golden calf hidden in a particular spot points out invariably to the existence of a pagan temple. Plans of the above mentioned seat of the chief have been seen in the possession of the late Dr. Lewis Bondi of Rabat by persons still alive. They describe the structure as composed of four pieces of huge stones, forming a sort of niche. The author was unable to find these plans. A Latin inscription, embodied in the words on the consecration slab of the parish church, records the belief that St.. Paul's voice was heard from this spot. A more ancient inscription was originally placed on a pillar outside the church; it was removed inside the sacred building by one of the parish priests of the village. A similar but much older and more reliable inscription is extant in the Church of St. Paul outside the walls of Rabat, Malta. It is clear that the author of the latter does not unhesitatingly endorse its contents. His misgivings compared with the steadfast assurance of local tradition, may perhaps be reconciled by saying that the Shewkiyah people came to know by some way or other (possibly by a supernatural cause) that the Apostle was preaching a new doctrine. What is really valuable from an historical and archaeological point of view is the living tradition that the Shewkiyah temple was at the time occupied by the Phoenicians; "they were they who heard St. Paul's voice; they are our ancestors."