Dictionary of Greek and Roman geography . n deity Melkart. (Ptol. iv. 3. § .37.)The ruins of both these templesare described by Quin-tino, who wrote in 1536, as existing in his time;but the grounds of identification are not given. Theonly considerable ruins now existing in the islandare those on the S. coast, near a place called CasalCrendi, which are described in detail by Barth.(Arch. Zeitimg, 1848, Xos. 22, 23.) These areevidently of Phoenician origin, and constructed ofmassive stones, in a very rude style of architecture,bearing much resemblance to the remains calledthe Toive dei Giganti,
Dictionary of Greek and Roman geography . n deity Melkart. (Ptol. iv. 3. § .37.)The ruins of both these templesare described by Quin-tino, who wrote in 1536, as existing in his time;but the grounds of identification are not given. Theonly considerable ruins now existing in the islandare those on the S. coast, near a place called CasalCrendi, which are described in detail by Barth.(Arch. Zeitimg, 1848, Xos. 22, 23.) These areevidently of Phoenician origin, and constructed ofmassive stones, in a very rude style of architecture,bearing much resemblance to the remains calledthe Toive dei Giganti, in the neighbouring island ofGozo. [Gaulos.] Some slight vestiges of build-ings near the port called Marsa Scirocco may per-haps be those of the temple of Hercules; while, ac-cording to Fazello and Quintino, those of the templeof Juno were situated in the neighbourhood of theCastle of S. Angela, opposite to the modern city ofValletta. (Quintiui Descript. Iiis. Melitae. p. 110,in Burmanns Thes. vol. xv.; Fazell. de Reb. 1. p. 16.). COIN OF MELITA. Ovid terms Melita a fertile island {Fast. iii. 567);an expression which is certainly ill applied, forthough it was, in ancient as well as modern times,populous and flourishing, and probably, therefore,always well cultivated, the soil is naturally stonyand barren, and tlie great want of water precludesall natural fertility. Cotton, which at the presentday is extensively cultivated there, was doubtlesstlie material of the fine stuffs manufactured in theishmd ; and the excellence of its soft stone as abuilding material accounts for the splendour of thehniises, extolled by Diodorus (v. 12). Another pe-culiar production of the island was a breed of smalldogs, noticed by Strabo and other authors, though VOL. II, MELITENE. 301 some writers derived these from the Melila in theAdriatic. The breed still exists in Malta. ( p. 277; Athen. xii. p. 518; Plin. iii. 26. s. 30.)The freedom from venomous reptiles which Maltaenjoys, in c
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