Hal Tarxien FOUR WALKS IN A VILLAGE OF CULTURE Joseph A Farrugia Alfred Massa Il-Kastell Tarxien Local Council wine bar Introduction Brief History of Tarxien by Joseph A. Farrugia One may wonder what the word “Tarxien” (pronounced tar-shin) means. Other towns or villages in Malta have taken their title from names or surnames of some person who was the fi rst one to build a habitation in that place, like Óal Kirkop, Óal G˙axaq and Óal Balzan. The prefi x Óal is short for ra˙al which means “the village of”. Many scholars have given their version of the derivation of the word “Tarxien”. Two scholars who have offered an explanation are E.B. Vella and Erin Serracino Inglott. E.B. Vella wrote that “Tarxien” is the plural of the word tirxa, “a big stone” while Erin Serracino Inglott gave the meaning of “Tarxien” as “a plateau that rises slowly from the sea”. From excavations carried out during the last two centuries, we know that this locality has been inhabited for more than fi ve thousand years. This is proved by the presence of the Megalithic Temples, the Bir Miftu˙ Chapel Hypogeum and the Kordin Temples found within the area that used to the way between Marsaxlokk (Porto Melkart) and Birgu, and on the pertain to the Tarxien boundaries. Tombs dating back to Phoenician way to Mdina. and Roman times have also been found in the area. This place was on In the Militia List of 1419 we fi nd the names of 18 male persons between the ages of 16 and 65 from Mitarxen (that is Tarxien), four of whom were rich enough to own a horse, and to have it prepared in case of invasion by corsairs at the time. When in 1436 Bishop De Mello divided Malta into 10 parishes, Tarxien was put under the matrix church of Birmiftu˙. We know from a protest that was sent to the Viceroy in Sicily in 1436, that at that time there was also a Council, which represented the people of Tarxien in their grievance against the Lord of Castello a Mare (Birgu). Later on, in 1541 we fi nd recorded that there was a tavern (Dar iΩ- ÛinΩillin) which was not only frequented by the locals but also patronised by people going through Tarxien as they travelled between Ûejtun and Painting of Tarxien Landscape by Girolamo Gianni, 1837 - 1895 (National Museum of Fine Arts) Mdina or to Birgu. 2 Tarxien Walks Din l-Art Óelwa 3 Before the start of the Great Siege of 1565 the old people, women When Tarxien was made a parish in 1592, its boundaries extended and children of Tarxien were ordered to leave their homes and to seek to those of Ûejtun (Tal-Barrani and Bulebel estates), those of Birgu up shelter behind the bastions of Senglea while the men between the ages to Santa Margerita Bastions and up to the Marsa Cross (with Valletta of 16 and 65, who were enlisted in the militia, were sent to Mdina to and Qormi). join the garrison of that city. Later on, during the Great Siege, however, When in 1626 Grand Master de Paule built the small church of they were given orders to proceed to Senglea to strengthen the defending Santa Ubaldesca, he proclaimed that the land called tal-G˙erien, part of forces there. The Turks used the deserted houses of Tarxien to billet Corradino Heights and the surrounding lands were to be called “Casale and provision their soldiers. Paola” after him. All these lands were within the boundaries of Tarxien. In a census compiled in 1575 by the Apostolic Delegate Mons. Because of the stagnant water in parts of Marsa, this new town (called Pietro Dusina it was stated that in Tarxien there were 100 houses. At by the Maltese, Ra˙al Ìdid) took a long time to grow. In fact it was that time, Tarxien was also called “The Village of St John” (casalis San only after the British government drained that part of Marsa where there Giovanni) because of a small chapel (San Ìwann t’G˙uxa) found within was stagnant water, built new docks at the Cottonera and opened the its boundaries. Also, at that time in this locality, there were 10 rural tunnel at G˙ajn Dwieli that the country town of Paola attracted a large chapels, three of which were dedicated to St Nicholas, one to St Andrew, population so that by 1910 it was made a parish on its own. one to the Assumption of Mary, one to St Luke, one to St Paul, one to During the French Blockade (1798 - 1800), Tarxien had two batteries St John the Almoner, one to St Leonard and one to the Annunciation of facing the French locked within the Cottonera Lines. One of these was Our Lady. The chapels dedicated to St Luke, St Paul and St Nicholas on the heights of Corradino Hill and the other on Tal-Bor© Hill, the latter were grouped together in the market place or misra˙. being under the command of the Tarxien patriot ÌuΩeppi Montebello. On the 29th May 1592, Bishop Thomas Gargallo declared Tarxien The people of Tarxien had to provide food and to pay the wages of all as a parish in its own right. Between 1610 and1636, the new parish the soldiers in those two batteries. At one time the more prosperous church was completely built in the centre of the village, called the villagers of Tarxien had to mortgage their land and the cotton crop to Market Place, where the previously mentioned group of three small be able to import food from Sicily for the soldiers and the people of chapels stood. Later, in 1709, the church was enlarged and in 1782 it was Tarxien. Fr Joseph Grech, vice parish priest of Tarxien, was sent over consecrated. The parish to Palermo to see the deal through. The Tarxien people repeatedly faced church is dedicated to starvation during those two years. the Annunciation of By 1859 a school was opened for the boys and girls of Tarxien. In Our Lady, in whose 1889 an elementary school was opened at Tarxien in which the English honour the people of language was taught for the fi rst time. Besides this school, the boys and Tarxien still celebrate girls of Tarxien were educated in two or three large buildings found a feast every year in in the village. In 1902 the Sisters of Charity also opened a school for late May. young girls, while Fr John Mamo opened the fi rst technical school for boys at Tarxien after 1912. In 1961 a new school, large enough to take all the boys and girls of Tarxien of primary and secondary age, was built. It still functions as such today. Part of Tarxien Temples 4 Tarxien Walks Din l-Art Óelwa 5 During World War II many houses in Tarxien were destroyed through Tarxien has its Local Council elected every three years. It consists of enemy action. During those years soldiers were billeted in large houses the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, together with fi ve Councillors. One fi nds in Tarxien and Palazzo Abela was used as the headquarters of the also a Community Centre that, amongst others, houses a public lending regiments in the surrounding area. The records show that 63 residents library and adult education facilities. Another organisation under the of Tarxien were killed by enemy action during the war. In 1992, the responsibility of the Local Council is the Tarxien Youth Forum. then Civic Council, set up in 1964 on the initiative of Joseph Scicluna After the last war all the surrounding fi elds were built up and two and the Rev. (later Mgr) Carmelo Sant erected a Monument to the War new parishes, that of Fgura and that of Santa Lucija, were erected as Dead in front of Villa Lefevre. parishes on their own and cut off from the boundaries of Tarxien. In 1966 the St Mary Street Playing Field was opened on the initiative Nowadays the population of Tarxien stands at approximately 8000 of the Civic Council. The Local Council has recently refurbished it. persons. These last fi fty years have seen great changes in the way the In 1974 the Joanne Gardens were laid and inaugurated. Some years Tarxien population lived: from a rural and agricultural population, it ago the Local Council upgraded this public garden. has changed to a semi-industrial and clerical one due mainly to the There are also two football grounds that are both surfaced with Dockyard at the Cottonera and the setting up of the adjacent Bulebel synthetic turf. The Local Council, on the initiative of the Mayor of and Marsa Industrial Estates. Tarxien, Mr P. Farrugia, constructed one of these and inaugurated it on the 25th April 2004. The other was built on the initiative of the Tarxien Rainbows, which is the local football team. Originally it was called Going to Tarxien ‘Little Rainbows Football Club’ and was set up over fi fty years ago. Bus numbers 8, 11, 13, 27 and 29 pass through Tarxien. Tarxien also has its local band club, which was founded way back in 1862. It is called ‘G˙aqda MuΩikali Marija Annunzjata, Tarxien Acknowledgements 1862’. This band club takes part not only in the local annual feast but also in festivities held in other villages. There is also a Boççi Club Mr Paul Farrugia, Mayor of Tarxien would like to thank the authors with its pitch. Mr Alfred Massa and Mr Joseph A. Farrugia; In Tarxien one can also fi nd Catholic organisations such as the Mr Frans Agius, Councillor, Mr Maurice L.