These are the medieval walls of the city looking in the opposite direction from yesterday. As you can see, there was no scope to re-inforce the city’s defences on this side. No invader – in those days - would attempt to scale these walls.
Behind the young man on the rampart in yesterday’s shot is a view point. The people there are not standing on the wall but behind the edge and the canons are just telescopes. This is in answer to Ann Le Fevre’s dilemma and Netkonnexion’s interpretaion.
Mdina has been given many different names along its very long history. The Romans called it Melite, the Arabs who came after them called it Medina – which in arabic means city. In different times it was also called Citta’ Notabile and also Citta’ Vecchia. Up to the time of the Arab conquest of 870 AD it was at least twice the size it is today. As was their defence theories, mainly that the smaller the city the better it is to defend it, the Arabs reduced it to the size it is today. The Arab rule lasted up to 1090 AD when the Islands were conquered by the Norman Count Roger of Hauteville.
Thank you very much for looking and for your lovely comments on yesterday's picture
Thanks for clearing that up Dione!! I can actually see how the people were standing a little better in this shot. Boy oh boy- my eyes!! I also like your choice of sepia for this. It really fits well with the landscape and your history lesson!
