Emmanuel Magri (also known as Manuel or Manwel; 27 February 1851, in

Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...

– 29 March 1907, in

Sfax Sfax (; ar, صفاقس, Ṣafāqis ) is a city in Tunisia, located southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD849 on the ruins of Berber Taparura, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate (about 955,421 inhabitants in 2014), and a Mediterrane ...

) was a Maltese

ethnographer Ethnography (from Greek ''ethnos'' "folk, people, nation" and ''grapho'' "I write") is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. Ethnography explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject o ...

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landsca ...

and writer. Magri gave a significant contribution as a scholar through his collection of Maltese folk tales and lore. Working at the end of the 19th and the turn of the 20th centuries, Magri's work saved for posterity ethnographic material which would have otherwise been lost through modernisation and more widespread education. Magri was also one of Malta's pioneers in

archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landsc ...

. He was a member of the first Committee of Management of the Museum of Malta alongside

Antonio Annetto Caruana Antonio Annetto Caruana (14 May 1830 – 3 March 1905), also known as A. A. Caruana, was a Maltese archaeologist and author. Biography Born in Valletta, Malta, Caruana showed an unusual proficiency in the knowledge of classical literature by hi ...

, N. Tagliaferro and

Temi Zammit Sir Themistocles "Temi" Zammit (or Żammit; 30 September 1864 – 2 November 1935) was a Maltese people, Maltese archaeologist and historian, professor of chemistry, medical doctor, researcher and writer. He served as Rector (1920–26) of t ...

. Magri was entrusted with the excavation of the

Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni A hypogeum or hypogaeum (plural hypogea or hypogaea, pronounced ; literally meaning "underground", from Greek ''hypo'' (under) and ''ghê'' (earth)) is an underground temple or tomb. Hypogea will often contain niches for cremated human rema ...

, a Megalithic Temple in Xewkija (Gozo), and a number of other sites in Malta and

Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After ...

. However, during the excavations, a portion of the contents of the Hypogeum, including

grave goods Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body. They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods may be classed as a ...

and human remains, were emptied out and discarded without being properly catalogued. To confound things further, Magri died in 1907 while conducting missionary work in

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

and his report on the Hypogeum was lost. Born on 27 February 1851 in Valletta, Magri joined the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

, in 1871. He was ordained priest in 1881 in Tortosa (Spain), and made the solemn profession of the last vows on 15 August 1890, in Istanbul. As a Jesuit, Magri taught in a number of Jesuit colleges in Malta and Turkey. He also served as Assistant of the Provincial of Sicily (1898–1902) and as Rector of the Seminary in Gozo (1902–1906). Magri died unexpectedly on 29 March 1907 in Sfax, Tunisia, where he had gone to preach Lenten exercises and celebrate Easter with the Maltese community.

References

Briffa, Josef Mario

"Historical Introduction" in E. Magri, ''Ruins of a Megalithic Temple at Xeuchia (Shewkiyah) Gozo. First report'', ed. by Charles Cini SDB, Malta: Salesians and Heritage Malta, 2009, pp. 6-9. "Patri Manwel Magri u l-Ipoġew", ''Lil Ħbiebna'', Novembru 2003, pp. 195-197. "New Light on Fr Magri's exploration of the Hypogeum: Notes from correspondence with the British Museum.", ''Malta Archaeological Review'', Issue 6, 41-46. Malta, 2005.

Magri, Emmanuel

''Three Punic Inscriptions re-discovered in Malta. Edited with translation and Commentary'', Malta: Government Printing Office, 1901.
''Ruins of a Megalithic Temple at Xeuchia (Shewkiyah) Gozo. First report'', Malta, 1906.

Mallia, Salv.

''Manwel Magri S.J.'', Malta: Istitut Komunikazzjoni Socjali, 1978
"Fr. Manwel Magri's Contribution to the Conservation of Malta's archaeological Heritage", ''Melita Historica'' 9 (1985), 145-169.
"Fr. Magri and Conservation: a Postscript", ''Melita Historica'' 9 (1985), 245-246.
"Magri, Emmanuel (Manwel)", in ''Diccionario Histórico de la Compañia de Jesús'' III, 2472. Roma & Madrid, 2001.

Mifsud Chircop, George

''Manwel Magri – Ħrejjef Missirijietna'' ritical edition of Magri's folk tales Malta, 1994.

Citations

External links

Father Manuel Magri on stamps
1851 births 1907 deaths Maltese scientists Maltese male writers Ethnographers Maltese archaeologists Maltese Jesuits People from Valletta Jesuit scientists 20th-century Maltese writers 19th-century Maltese writers 19th-century Maltese Roman Catholic priests Maltese non-fiction writers Male non-fiction writers {{Malta-bio-stub

See also

References

External links