Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/346

316 were many forts of a minor character placed in advantageous positions all over the island. These were garrisoned by a few soldiers only, and trusted for their defence principally to the peasants, who flocked thither for shelter upon the alarm being given of an enemy’s approach.

The chapel of Our Lady of Philermo was undoubtedly the most important and interesting building left by the fraternity outside the city of Rhodes. It was built to contain a picture of the Virgin Mary, which they held in especial reverence, and supposed to have been from the brush of the evangelist St. Luke. In an arched crypt about twenty feet long and eight wide are the remains of a large number of frescoes, the work of a member of the Order who had been a pupil of Cimabue. Two represented the Annunciation and the angel appearing to Joseph. Separated from these by mosaics came others in which were Elyon de Villanova, Fuik de Villaret, Roger de Pins, and Antonio Fluvian, all kneeling on cushions fully armed and aecoutred, supported by St. Michael, St. Catherine, the Virgin Mary, and an apostle. They are gazing at a representation at the end of the crypt of Our Saviour seated on a throne showing his five wounds, having on his right hand St. Peter and St. Paul, and on his left the Blessed Virgin, who is laying her hand on the head of a kneeling knight, and by her side St. Mary Magdalene. Under this picture are two others of St. Michael and St. George, each in the act of overcoming his adversary, and between them the cross of the Order.

Other frescoes have as subjects—Our Lady with the seven swords; our Saviour on the cross, with the Virgin Mary and St. John (over this picture are two knights of St. John in prayer); the Passion is represented in seven pictures; the agony in the garden; the taking of our Lord by torchlight; the scene in the prtotorium; the scourging; the crowning with