MaltaHalberd head from Malta, Europe. Part of the Pitt Rivers Museum Founding Collection. Given to the Museum in 1884.

This halberd is from Malta and dates to the late 16th or early 17th century. At this time the island was under the rule of the Order of the Knights of St. John who had been ousted from their traditional stronghold of Rhodes by the Ottomans. The head of this weapon is more elegant than earlier European forms - the spike has been extended and the beak and blade have been reduced to ornamental fretwork. This reflects the fact that the Knights were, at this time, enjoying a period of relative domestic peace in their turbulent history and could express their artistic achievements not only in architecture and art but also in weapons such as this that were intended more for display than use.