The Three Crosses Traditional Geocache
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Size: 
(small)
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There is a wayside Chapel in Bidni called Madonna Tad-Dawl (the Chapel of Our Lady of Light) built in 1732. Nearby is a strange free standing masonry wall, fascinating in appearance with associated legends. One side of the wall is flat and featureless except for the remains of what may have been a carved Lion's head. On the other side is a set of three crosses, the central and largest being adorned with well executed, weather worn allegoric carvings consisting of ten sculpted Passion Symbols. The two smaller crosses, one either side, represent those on which two thieves were crucified beside Jesus, and are unadorned. On the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified, the Instruments of Passion in left to right order are: 1. The Whip used for the 39 lashes. Why is there another at the other end? 2. The Sponge set on a reed with which Gall and Vinegar were offered to Jesus or is it the Reed which was placed in Jesus' hand mocking a Sceptre? 3. The Lance or Spear a Roman soldier used to inflicted the final of the five wounds in Christ’s’ side 4. The Pillar, Column or Tower where Jesus was whipped in the Flagellation of Christ 5. The Pincers used to remove the nails 6. The Chain which bound Jesus overnight in prison 7. The Hammer used to drive the nails into Jesus' wrists (not hands) and feet 8. The Rooster (Cockerel) that crowed after Peter’s third denial of Jesus 9. The Ladder used to remove Christ's body from the cross for Deposition (burial) 10. The Whip again (why twice?) On the upright column of the central cross which supports the horizontal (cross beam) on which the Passion Symbols are hung is another Symbol. It looks like a three section box (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) perhaps representing The Holy Grail or Chalice used by Jesus at The Last Supper which some say was also used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch the Blood of Christ during the crucifixion. The top section has three (or possibly five) dots. The other two boxes each contain five dots perhaps symbolising two sets of five Commandments thus making a total Ten (Ten Commandments). If the top box has three dots, the grand total is thirteen, (thirteen people at the last supper). If it has five dots, alluding to the five wounds Christ suffered on the Cross, the total fifteen symbolises “Rest” to Christians. Previously, there may have been a Crown at the top (Capital) of the Cross which time and the elements have eroded but it does have the remnants of the usual Titulus Crucis acronym INRI representing the inscription IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), in English “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews”. Żabbar and Marsaskala where part of Żejtun Parish until 1615. Marsaskala’s population was less than 50 people and the area was mainly used by Sicilian fishermen but, Żabbar’s population was growing so the residents petitioned the Bishop to establish it as an independent Parish which he did. This wall was apparently erected to mark the parish boundary of Żejtun and Żabbar however, one can discern the Roman Numerals MDCCCXCIX (1899) on the pedestal base of the central cross so is this when it was originally erected or refurbished? The three legends regarding the origin of these crosses are: • Three Monks were killed by the Turks and are buried there • A man died of the plague and is buried there • After rising from the dead three times, a Hermit is buried there!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
k K k Jung Guerr Jbeqf - Oynpxraf. Cbhgrq. Wnhagf