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| Malta.biz » |
| Sights & Attractions
| | » Prehistoric Sites
Malta's prehistoric sites boggle the minds of archeologists. The most detached layman must be awed at the sheer age of the neolithic tempels, their advanced architecture, their mysteries.
There are 33 Stone Age tempels on 18 different sites. |
Mjarda Temples
A walk of several hundred meters down the hill form Hagar Qim leads to the enigmatic Mjarda temple complex.
The Lower Temple, built earlier than 3000BC, is the only maltese temple set along astronomically significant lines.
The entrance is coordinated with the position of the sun at the summer and winter soltice.
Could this sitting have been an accident?
Some experts think so, but the odds are overwhelmingly against it.
It looks the temple builders had deviced a calendar to rule their devotion for the religious year.
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 Ghantija
Ghantija is a great monument of the Malta's smaller sister, Gozo. It is awensome for its ages, for its ingenious engineering, for the mystery of its builders and their faith. Experts say, it was built between 3600 and 3200BC.
During that period the architecture style evolved from a trefoil to a temple with five aspes. Two temples are enclosed within a common wall, now open to the elements.
Originally, the temples were probably roofed.
Some of the stone slabs making up the outer wall are more than 6 m (20 ft) tall. |
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Attraction: "Gozo Heritage"
On the road from the port to Victoria, the Gozo's capital, you can stop for a preview at Gozo Heritage.
This is a walk-through survey, skillfully done, of the island's pre-history. It takes about 20 minutes following the light and sound effects, which are computer controlled,
to stroll through the 7,000 years covered in the show.
In the inevitable souvenir shop that rounds out the experience, you may see local craftsmen at work.
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Editor: Admin
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