Uncovering Malta’s Hidden Tolkien Connection.
Malta sits at the heart of the Mediterranean, a sun-soaked island known for its honey-coloured stone, ancient harbours, layered history and 300 days of sunshine each year. It is far removed from the mountains and mist-covered worlds imagined by J.R.R Tolkien. But a connection with Tolkien caught me by surprise.
With Tolkien-themed talks and events hosted by Malta’s local Tolkien society it prompted me to take a closer look at what connection could Malta possibly have with Tolkien and the legacy of his books, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit?
Tolkien himself never visited the island, although he did exchange letters with a Maltese student, Charles Calleja. A small detail, but with Tolkien, a small thread can lead to somewhere interesting.
In Tolkien’s invented language systems, the word “malta” is associated with gold. Whether accidental or intentional, it creates a fascinating overlap with Malta’s own identity. Historically, the island has long been linked to honey, a commodity so valued that Malta was sometimes described as a land of liquid gold.
It points to an intriguing historical connection and is a curious parallel with Malta’s role in film to represent another setting, in time and place. The island has appeared in productions ranging from Game of Thrones to Gladiator, and it rarely plays itself. Instead, Malta becomes an ancient kingdom, a biblical setting, or a forgotten port city. Wander through the narrow streets of Mdina and it is easy to imagine stepping into another era. Explore the fortified walls of Valletta and history unfolds layer by layer. Malta often feels like a place standing between realities.
It is another example that once you scratch the surface of Malta, a deeper story is uncovered which unexpectedly leads to surprises in real and imaginary worlds.
Perhaps that is why Malta resonates so strongly with storytellers and travellers alike, it is a small island with stories far bigger than itself. It is not Middle-earth, but its power lies in becoming somewhere else.
This article appeared in The Malta Journal edition 599
