Jesuit & Other Clerical Contributions to Early Antiquarian Practices in Malta

Recent research has shown that early antiquarianism in Malta was predominantly shaped by members of the clergy, with the Jesuit Order playing a particularly influential role. The Jesuits were instrumental not only in the study, research, publication, and preservation of antiquities but also in cultivating antiquarian interests beyond their own order. Through their expansive international networks, the Jesuits facilitated Malta’s integration into the Republic of Letters, promoting intellectual exchange and collaborative scholarship with prominent figures such as Abela, Mirabella, Kircher, and Peiresc.

This lecture provides an overview of the early phases of antiquarian activity in the Maltese islands, highlighting the central role of ecclesiastical figures. It then focuses specifically on the multifaceted contributions of the Jesuits to Maltese antiquarian practice. The presentation opens with the 1536 publication of ‘Insulae Melitae Descriptio’ by Quintinus and concludes with the Jesuit Order’s donation of the remaining antiquities from Giovanni Francesco Abela’s collection to…