New light on Fr Magri's exploration of the Hypogeum : notes from correspondence with the British Museum

In November 1903, a century ago, the Committee of Management of the Museum proposed Father Emmanuel Magri S.J. to supervise the exploration of the Hypogeum in Paola. Dr Temi Zammit, in the Museum Annual Report for 1903 wrote: "The exploration [of the Hypogeum] is being carried on under the supervision of Father E. Magri, S.J., whose competence is unquestionable and who will undoubtedly give us a full report on the completion of the work." Unfortunately, Fr Magri died unexpectedly on 29 March, 1907, in Sfax, Tunisia where he had gone to preach spiritual exercises, and celebrate Easter. With the Report undelivered, and his notes not traced, his work seems completely lost. Magri's notes and correspondence Though very active, Magri left few publications related to archaeology. His notes have never been found, no material related to archaeology has ever been traced in Jesuit archives. But is the picture actually so bleak? Magri 's correspondence proves to be a goldmine. Several letters related to archaeology have actually been traced. Some thirty-five of them, addressed mainly to the Lieutenant Governor were found some years ago in the Palace Archives, Valletta,. These letters are now in the National Archives, in Rabat. I have retraced a new series of letters at the British Museum, eleven letters written by Fr Magri to Dr E.A. Wallis Budge, the Keeper of Assyrian and Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum. These letters shed new light on Magri 's exploration of the hypogeum.peer-reviewe