Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1380662
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 JUNE 2021 7 CULTURE Maltese prehistoric culture graces the halls of major Dutch museum FROM the first week of June till the end of October, the National Museum of Antiquities of The Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, in the city of Leiden will be hosting an ex- clusive exhibition which will be showcasing Malta's rich prehis- toric culture, through several artefacts which have been flown in from Malta. In fact, some 90 artefacts have been sent by Her- itage Malta, together with six temple models, through which, museum goers will get the right insight, to the Maltese prehis- toric period, which dates back to 3600 – 2500 BC. Visitors will get to see parts of temple deco- rations, tools, decorated pottery and statuettes. One of the smallest objects in the exhibition, and perhaps the most current one is a two-cen- timeter statuette from 3200 BC. Found in the temples of Tarxien, it depicts two people lovingly embracing each other, clearly showing that the human need for contact and affection is timeless. This exhibition is being organised as part of a memorandum of understand- ing which Heritage Malta has with the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, and with the sup- port of the Malta Tourism Authority, through its Office in The Netherlands and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Malta. "We hope that this exhibi- tion will encourage those liv- ing in the Netherlands to visit Malta to experience first-hand the uniqueness of Malta's pre- history and our other cultural treasures," H.E. Mark Pace, Ambassador of Malta to The Netherlands said during the virtual opening of the exhibi- tion. "Our prehistoric temples are the oldest free-standing build- ings in the world and their out- standing value has even secured them a place on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. The exhibition being held in the Netherlands not only honours these structural masterpiec- es but also presents a perfect opportunity to promote Malta and its rich cultural heritage," said Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta's Chief Executive Officer Carlo Micallef, Chief Market- ing Officer & Deputy CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority said that "MTA is very happy to support this exhibition af- ter the marketing strategy that the Authority had to adapt to during the months of the pan- demic. Throughout the past months, MTA in collaboration with Heritage Malta and oth- er partners, tried as much as possible to bring The Maltese Islands sunshine, beauty and heritage into people's lives, at a time when many of us were confined at home dreaming of holidays. We have now moved a step further, now that the re- strictions in the Netherlands are also being relaxed gradu- ally, and having actual histor- ic artefacts exhibited in the museum, is the perfect way to introduce Malta's timeless history to our future visitors, who are most welcome to "Feel Free Again" and visit Malta and Gozo following the recent positive change in travel advice of the Netherlands to Malta. Virtual Tour of the Exhibition: h t t p s : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=orWouEadm7U