page_title: Ta' Ċieda Tower
section_title: Punic and Roman
hierarchical_section_title: Ta' Ċieda Tower / History / Punic and Roman
caption_attribution_description: English: Ta Cieda Roman Tower, San Gwann
context_page_description: Ta' Ċieda Tower, also known as San Ġwann Roman Tower, is a Punic-Roman tower in San Ġwann, Malta. The exact origins of the tower could date back to pre-history with different architecture. It is argued that the tower could be of Punic origins rather than Roman but the latter have adapted it. The site of the tower was used as a cemetery, or more, during the Muslim caliphate in the medieval times. Following the expulsion of the Muslims in Malta a church dedicated to St. Helen was built on the site.
  Today roughly one-third of the tower still stands and is neglected. The tower is one of a chain of towers that were built at their time, probably designed to aid each other from invasion coming from the sea. Eight coastal towers are believed to have existed in Malta and none on the nearby island of Gozo; six of which are known as the Punic-Roman towers. The remains of rural villa, consisting of a cistern and Roman wall, are found close by.
context_section_description: In 1915 archeologist Thomas Ashbey said that the tower is of Phoenician origins. The tower is generally believed to be a Roman tower, hence the references as San Gwann Roman Tower or Ta' Cieda Roman Tower or Ta' Cieda Round Tower. Archeologists, such as Professor A. Bonanno, argue that speaking on the context of the time it is more likely that the tower was built during the Punic period rather than the Roman period as attack were less likely during the latter. Round tower designs were already established at the time of the Punic period. Indeed, historians hold that the Maltese archipelago in the third century was at the aim of Carthage and the Romans by invading the native Punic civilisation. Despite these plausible arguments it is also argued that the tower may have been built by the Punic people and then embellished by the Romans. From the findings it is also suggested that the Romans may have built it in the form of a folly to overlook the plantation of the olive trees which originate in the area since Roman times. Even if so it is not clearly known as no Roman villas were ever recorded to exist in the area, but Romans did rule the islands for a long period. For instance Roman villas and Roman buildings were excavated near other Roman towers in the south of Malta such as in Hal Safi and Żurrieq, and as a chain of towers working together this may be also a plausible argument.
  In 1960 Doctor David Trump has brought to the attention of a Roman cistern not far from the tower. This structure is historically important as the use of cement, that at times is thought to be a modern use, was used by the Romans that does not date to the Punics. This concludes that the origins of the tower is Punic but that the tower was readopted by the Romans. Roman pottery was unearthed and Roman tombs have been excavated and documented. It has been said that the tower "may have served as a centre point around which one of Malta's more important mediaeval settlements had developed out of late Roman economic activity in the area".
caption: The Ta' Cieda Tower and modern housing at the back
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