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Have you ever heard of these peculiar Maltese legends?
Have you ever heard of these peculiar Maltese legends?
Malta is unquestionably rich in mythology, legends, folklore, and enigmatic tales. Today, OhMyMalta will be showcasing two peculiar legends which may have not seen the light of day as frequently as other renowned legends.
1. The Heroic Story of Bernardo Di Puo
Bernardo di Puo was a Knight stationed in Citadella, Gozo with his family. During the horrific siege of 1551, the knights knew that unless relief from Malta arrived soon, they would have to submit or starve to death. He was much more concerned about what would happen if his wife and daughter fell into the Turks’ cruel clutches. So, to prevent his family from being tortured, with tremendous courage, he thrust his sword into their hearts.
When the Cittadella doors opened the next morning and the enraged Turks surged in, he cleverly covered the tight lane with wooden boards as best he could so that the enemy would not outnumber him too easily. He battled each Turk one by one as they tried to murder him through the tight opening. However, because he was wounded and battle-weary, he died fighting, but not before avenging himself ten-fold for the untimely death of his beloved wife and daughter.
2. The Golden Calf of Gozo (L-Ghogol tad-Deheb)
While the golden calf is an actual golden statue of a calf discovered in 1729, a legend surrounding it still haunts the shining remains. After hearing about the statue from a foreigner, a farmer called Sidor is said to have uncovered a golden horn from the Calf in one of his fields.
He sought guidance from a trader called Pupull on how to sell the statue, but the man duped him into handing up the statue for a few pennies. When the farmer’s wife learned about the arrangement, she grew enraged and informed her neighbours. When the report reached the grand-ears, master’s he dispatched men to investigate. Pupull and the Hakem (governor) were worried, so they concealed the statue and fooled the men.
Finally, the great master himself arrived to look over the matter. After meeting the Hakem, he got sceptical and spoke with the farmer, who told him the full story. The Hakem was relieved of his duties. Pupull was adamant about not revealing where he had hidden it. Thus, he was imprisoned at Fort St Angelo’s dungeons, but he perished under torture before divulging the location of the Calf.
