Ta' Ċieda Tower
| It-Torri ta' Ċieda | |
View of the lower remains of Ta' Ċieda Tower
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| Location | San Ġwann, Malta |
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| Coordinates | 35°54′26.6″N 14°28′48.1″E / 35.907389°N 14.480028°ECoordinates: 35°54′26.6″N 14°28′48.1″E / 35.907389°N 14.480028°E |
| Type | Tower |
| Part of | Punic-Roman towers in Malta |
| History | |
| Builder | Phoenicians or Carthaginians or Romans |
| Material | Upper Coralline Limestone |
| Founded | 3rd century BC |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1960 |
| Archaeologists | Thomas Ashbey and David Trump |
| Condition | Bottom base and ruins |
| Ownership | Government of Malta |
| Management | San Ġwann Local Council |
| Public access | Yes |
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 name Ta' Cieda was given in the medieval ages by Christians of which origins is from the devotion to St Helen.
The area of San Ġwann has been inhabited since pre-historic times and evidence of this are the cart ruts in San Ġwann situated not far from the tower. Excavation have suggested that the tower may have pre-historic origins but archaeologists believe that some rocks may have had adaptive reuse. Indeed, the round shape tower suggest that it was built sometimes later as other pre-historic fortification in Malta show different construction of pre-historic defense. A Neolithic/Bronze structure has also been found close by at Wied Ghomor (Ghomor Valley).
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.
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