The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage in Malta have announced that a number of seven shelters have been added to the National Inventory of Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands as a result of their mesmerising rock sculpted religious iconography.

Such religious iconography was found in World War II shelters across the country, hence why they have such a cultural importance.

They were most likely sculpted there as a means of comfort to those fearing for their lives during the air raids while in the shelters. The Maltese prayed to these figures of Jesus Christ or Our Lady for their safety.

The team at the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage are not quite sure who the artists are. However, they are certain that local sculptor Alfred Azzopardi was responsible for the one found at the Triq l-Imrigg shelter.

Apparently, the Government of Malta commissioned him to sculpt many religious images in Malta’s shelters but most of them are not signed by any artist so they cannot be fully certain which images are his and which aren’t.