Set the scene.
The Old Prison stands beside the courts inside Gozo’s Citadel. Its cells and corridors preserve graffiti scratched by people held there: ships, crosses, names, dates, games and handprints.
Here’s the twist.
One prisoner became unusually famous. In 1538, Jean Parisot de Valette spent four months imprisoned after attacking a man. This was long before he became Grand Master and gave Valletta its name.
Why it still matters.
The marks are historical evidence, but they do not explain themselves. A drawing can suggest a personal memory or belief without revealing its maker’s whole story. Look for clues, then ask what the evidence cannot tell you.
FACT OR MYTH? 🤔Every historic prisoner’s story survives in writing.Tap to reveal ↓
Myth. Graffiti can preserve traces of people whose lives are otherwise difficult to reconstruct.
🧠 One to think about +
What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.
