The whole city is a monument

In The Times of December 29, among the letters there was a suggestion to erect a monument to Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette, made by Saviour Joseph Attard.

Hats off to those people who still wish to honour our ancestors with monuments so that their memory would not be interred with their bones. I admire Mr Attard's zeal for his country.

On the other hand, there is a Latin saying that goes: Non multiplicantur entia absque necessitate. Things must not be multiplied without necessity.

Sir Christpher Wren (1632-1723) was an English architect and mathematician. He planned to rebuild the City of London after the Great Fire (1666). He built 52 churches, Greenwich Hospital, Hampton Court, and the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.

He built St Paul's Cathedral as well. After he built it, someone remarked that no monument in his honour had been erected. He replied: Look at the cathedral, the cathedral itself is a monument.

The same can be said for La Valette's memorial. The whole city, named after him, is his monument. It is not a relic, but an insigna. Our friend forgot to mention that a monument should be build for its architect.

Since Mr Attard mentioned the bust of Pope St Pius V, I do not believe that this bust is in the right place. It gives the appearance of there being nowhere to put it. Secondly, Pope Pius V had nothing to do with the law courts. I also feel that the modern pedestal does not match the bust. In my opinion the original corbel (sagliatura) fits better.