Local geographers claim that in prehistoric times, the place of tiny Malta was occupied by a much larger piece of land. This is evidenced by two megalithic temples found on the seabed, near the city of San Julian. The opinion about the relationship of the archipelago to Atlantis is widespread in the scientific world, although it is not supported by any specific data. ancient history the country is also foggy; only guesses are the assumptions about the existence of a developed civilization here with a cultural, but aggressive society that instilled fear in the Egyptians and Greeks.
According to the most common version, the first inhabitants of Malta were farmers from Sicily. Having successfully overcome 100 km on wooden rafts, they brought food, utensils, and tools with them. Together with people, domestic animals and animals of unknown purpose landed on the islands, for example, pygmy elephants the size of an ordinary dog. This significant event happened about 4 thousand years ago. However, experts attribute the settlement of the Maltese archipelago to earlier times, citing mysterious, albeit quite material things as evidence. So, the local roads arose long before the invention of the wheel, and their abrupt end near the coast suggests earth faults.
Elephant figurine from a megalithic temple
Mysterious ruts with sloping walls are hollowed out in the rocky ground, have a depth of about half a meter and are separated from each other by a distance of 1.4 m. In some places they reach the very edge of the water, maintaining parallelism; in others they converge and intersect like rails. Left by unknown transport, the tracks could have been preserved after the construction of the temple or its transfer to another place due to a change in the relief. Discarding the idea of Atlantis, we can assume that Malta is part of the land absorbed by the sea. In addition to strange roads, the remains of prehistoric lizards found on the islands are proof of this, too large for an island only 27 km long.
Another mystery lies in the finds in the dungeons of the sanctuary of Hal Saflieni near the city of Paola: figurines in the form of obese, headless figures with tiny arms and legs, at the time of discovery, lay next to amphoras and lamps. No less surprising is the origin of local ivory products. As you know, mammoths left the world at the end of the Ice Age, and their alleged descendants - elephants - were found only in Africa. In ancient times, as an ornamental material, ivory was valued on a par with gold. Its transportation until the beginning of our era was too difficult, especially for a people who did not know how to build ships. Nevertheless, in Malta, ivory jewelry was available as early as the 3rd millennium BC. e. Today they are on display. National Museum archeology along with pottery and stone tools.
As the largest of the museums in Valletta, it is located in a house called "Auberge de Provence", built as a hostel for the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Clay and metal products found in the upper layers of the Khal Saflieni underground date back to the Bronze Age.
Terracotta figurine from Khal Saflieni
Standard plan of a megalithic temple
Later and artistically less valuable, they are marked by the influence of Aegean art.
Judging by their appearance, these products were made not by aliens, but by immigrants from Sicily: ceramics with a scratched pattern of red and white colors are similar to objects of the Neolithic cultures of Western Europe.
Ancient architecture - the most valuable part of the prehistoric heritage - in Malta is presented in museums under open sky, which are all the islands of the archipelago. The megalithic sanctuaries of Malta date back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The most interesting of all the monuments found in Europe, they are carved into the rock or erected from local limestone. Separate structures were erected about 6 thousand years ago, that is, they appeared earlier Egyptian pyramids, until recently considered the first man-made buildings on Earth. Megaliths (from the Greek megas and lithos - “big stone”) are ancient cult buildings built dry from huge, often unprocessed stone blocks. To date, 3 types of megalithic structures are known: dolmens, menhirs and cromlechs. Dolmens, made in the form of large stone boxes covered with a flat slab, were built as burials. The menhir is a long stone dug into the ground strictly vertically.
The prehistoric monuments of Malta are mainly represented by cromlechs, or a group of menhirs, set in the form of a circular fence. Similar to the famous Stonehenge complexes in England and Karnak in France, they appeared a millennium earlier. In addition to age, the Maltese megaliths are distinguished by their purpose and unusual building density: more than 20 temple complexes are located on a site comparable in size to small town. Megalithic structures of the same type, wherever they are located, are similar in material, architectural form and construction. Courtyards are often hidden behind high stone fences, similar in plan to a flower with three petals.
In prehistoric times, stone was not just a building material. Belief in its magical properties was reflected in amulets and totems. Filled with deep meaning in antiquity, things made of solid earth rock retained their former significance in the future. Christians erected their first church on a stone; the borders of sacred territories were marked with stone; next to the large stones endowed with a special role, the tribes gathered for advice. In mainland complexes, groups of stone obelisks were used in unknown ceremonies. Even the quantity, not to mention the location, refutes any thoughts about the random nature of such ensembles. If dolmens were undoubtedly tombs, then the role of menhirs is still a matter of dispute. The cromlech device, quite complicated for its time, required knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, which the ancient builders could well have possessed.
Collective burials in caves and the cyclopean masonry of temples do not reveal the mystery of the first millennia of island history. The gods of the ancient Maltese remained unknown, just as the everyday life of the people, undoubtedly developed and, perhaps, coming from the mainland, is covered with a veil of secrecy. Recently, thoughts have been increasingly expressed about the presence of giants in Malta, who arose from nowhere, existed on the islands for 2 millennia and also mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind huge temples.
The Maltese sanctuaries were built from stone monoliths up to 8 m long and weighing several tons each. It is difficult to attribute their creation to the Sicilians, because they were never distinguished by high stature or strong physique.
Gzhantia
The ancient builders of Malta used 2 types of stone: hard tal-kuavvi for masonry walls and soft tal-franca for interior decoration. The method of transportation and processing of blocks is still unknown, but the construction technology was reproduced quite accurately. Work began with the construction of a pit under the foundation. Its walls were sloping on one side and strictly vertical on the opposite side, where the foundation pit was reinforced with logs. Having rolled blocks on rollers, workers moved them to a wooden floor, and then, helping themselves with levers and winches, lowered them down. The laying of the slabs took place slowly, literally by centimeters, although as a result, huge stones lay down exactly.
After the foundation, the construction of the above-ground part of the temple began, which was formed with the help of winches and scaffolding. The ancient builders fitted the blocks very tightly, trying not to leave gaps. The semicircular chambers of the sanctuaries were located around the central aisle. The complex buildings were surrounded by a common wall, similar in plan to a horseshoe and also made in the megalithic technique, that is, without mortar and pre-treatment of the stone surface. It is assumed that the fences were originally covered with false vaults.
The largest Maltese sanctuary - Gzhantiya - is located on the island of Gozo and, in addition to the official one, has the name "mother and daughter". The second name was determined by the original form of the structure, erected in the form of two lying women of unequal height. The entrance to each of them is arranged in place of the vagina.
Erotic symbolism occupied a special place in the culture of the Maltese newcomers. In many temples, places of honor were given to phallic signs represented by drawings and unusual sculpture. So, a powerful slab in one of the sanctuaries personified the human reproductive organ. Anyone who managed to touch her could hope for a quick addition to the family. The smooth and rather even surface of an ordinary stone pedestal in some unknown way correlated with male power, which is also believed by the current Maltese. It is no coincidence that this temple is the most visited of the ancient monuments of the island, and it is not difficult to guess that representatives of the stronger sex come here more often.
Dolmen
At one time, Gzhantiya was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest building on the planet. The rest of the temples of Malta were built 2-3 millennia later, but, despite their relative youth, they are of no less historical interest and are excellent from the artistic side. In 1847, notes by the French writer G. Flaubert appeared in the European press. Like many of his colleagues, the famous novelist expressed his interest in ancient monuments, but, unlike many, did not see any mysticism in their origin. Calling dolmens and menhirs magical buildings, he did not deny their cult significance, noting that “they could embody the ideas of the temple characteristic of the ancients.
Some see the huge swaying stones of the dolmens as a symbol of the Earth floating in an endless void. They could be a device for trials: when someone was accused of a crime, he had to walk on a shaky stone. If he remained motionless, the person was justified. It is difficult to say something definite about menhirs. If desired, in each of them one can notice a resemblance to a huge phallus and, on this basis, draw a conclusion about some kind of phallistic cult, like the cult of Isis.
The religious significance of the Maltese megaliths could not be proved, but the piety of the locals forced them to build sanctuaries before houses. Probably, this tradition passed into modern times from the era of mysterious giants who did not hide in fortresses, did not build tombs for themselves, did not have weapons, including primitive knives, did not hunt and did not plow the land. Rejecting metal, by then long ago known to people, the likely ancestors of the Maltese turned their talents to construction.
Stone figurine Saracen
The life of the mysterious settlers was subordinated to the service of the gods and the construction of temples. Perhaps they were supplied with food and clothing by pilgrims who came to Malta to worship the goddess Saracen, a fat, prolific giantess, whose image is depicted in temple sculpture. The rocky lands of the archipelago could be sacred place, where her priestesses and secular worshipers lived, who undoubtedly adhered to the laws of matriarchy. The overweight Saracen was more often depicted sitting and lying down. Almost all of her statues have no heads, but in place of the neck there are recesses where nozzles found in the same temples fit. Apparently, each head of the goddess was a certain symbol, therefore, it was replaced before the start of the corresponding ceremony.
The Maltese believed that the beauty of Saracen could drive you crazy, so the priestesses, not wanting that to the faint of heart, hid the face of the goddess, removing her head from the statue. The most spectacular of all the statues found is called the Maltese Venus. The peculiar appearance of the foremother of the islanders brings considerable income, because miniature copies of the famous sculpture are now sold in all souvenir shops in Malta. According to legend, it was she who built Gzhantia, dragging huge blocks of stone from the nearest cliffs. Translated from the Maltese language, the name of this sanctuary of the archipelago sounds like “the tower of the giantess”. It is said that in one hand Saracen held a block, and in the other she carried her child, whom the undersized inhabitants of Gozo for some reason consider their ancestor.
Carved ornament on a stele at Khal Tarshin
Interior view of the Shrine of Khal Tarshin
Most of the Maltese temples do not have interior decoration. The impression of completeness is created by the decoration: stone idols, carved altars, niches and hearths, flat sculpture on the walls, where the animal motif is often repeated. In some cases, portal blocks were decorated with primitive carved ornaments. Dots, spirals, realistically interpreted plant and zoomorphic motifs were made in flat relief and then painted. Similar patterns with traces of paint distinguish the walls of the Khal Tarshin temple, discovered about a century ago in the north-east of Malta. Currently, a museum complex of the same name has been created here, consisting of 4 temples, created in 2100-2800 BC. e.
A true masterpiece of prehistoric architecture is the Hypogeum, a multi-storey cave carved into granite rock with the help of stone tools. The labyrinth of narrow passages, caverns, shallow and deep niches smoothly descends to a depth of 12 m. Translated from Latin, the word “hypogeum” means “underground dwelling”. However, the full name of the monument contains the name of Saflieni Street, where archaeologists dug it up at the beginning of the last century.
Unlike other Maltese temples, the Hypogeum probably had more than just a religious purpose. During excavations in the lowest tier, tens of thousands of human skeletons were found, which indicates that the underground corridors could be used as a cemetery, a prison, or a place where priests were tested. Burials are located in the lower tiers, representing a series of low burial chambers with three blank walls. Each of them was intended for a small body; they all resembled each other, but one was distinguished by its "infinite length", that is, stretched out in the form of a tunnel, it was lost in an unexplored thickness of rocky rock. In the pre-war years, local daredevils tried to explore the mysterious hole; having hardly overcome the narrow entrance, they fell into the tunnel and remained in it forever.
Hypogeum
In the absence of eyewitnesses, rumors arose that some creatures inhabited this place, interested in preserving the secrets of their monastery. One way or another, people really disappeared in the Maltese dungeons, strange sounds were heard and the most attractive caves crumbled by themselves. The system of catacombs was mentioned more than once in ancient books. Some of the authors assured that the network of tunnels branched inward and to the sides, continued under seabed and stretched to Italy.
To date, all the megaliths found in different parts of the archipelago are open to the public in Malta. Prehistoric buildings, as a rule, are combined into complexes, that is, a single name means several structures.
At the southern tip of Malta, there are 2 temples as part of the Hajar Kim ensemble, built in 2700 BC. e.
Bugibba
Cave Ar Dalam
On the opposite side of the island stands Bugibba - a temple named after the city, not far from which archaeologists discovered it in 1928. Over time, the city border came close to the ancient cromlech and today it is located on the territory of the New Dolmen Hotel. The resort town of Bugibba, located 10 km from Valletta, is far away from the capital, by local standards, because the length of Malta is three times as long. The road from Bugibba to St. Julian runs along the coast, and, despite the loud name of the Regional Highway, is a crooked single-lane road with poor coverage. At night, it turns into a kind of "road of death." The last lanterns stand at the exit from the nearest town of Sliema, and drivers, cursing the darkness, are forced to drive between a rock and an abyss.
The gloomy cave museum Ar Dalam is a real repository of fossils. Walking through its cool halls, you can see pygmy elephants and hippos, giant dormouse and turtles, as well as birds that inhabited the island more than 200 thousand years ago. Thus, in the unique exhibits of Ar Dalam, the moments of the appearance of life are recorded not only in Malta, but also on Earth as a whole. The cult ensemble Mnajdra, discovered in the middle of the 19th century at the southern tip of Malta, consists of three sanctuaries of different sizes. In the spring of 2001, on the night of the fateful Friday the 13th, on the eve of Easter, modern vandals visited the monumental building, moving and breaking 60 stone blocks. The ancient temple, fortunately, was not destroyed, although it suffered the only time in its long existence.
Mnajdra
Having erected unique complexes, the mysterious giants suddenly disappeared in the prime of their culture. The events that led to the departure or mass death of an entire people remained a secret of history: guesses about the epidemic and the war were not confirmed. Also, the idea that they left the world voluntarily, not wanting to see the changes taking place in it, has not been proven.
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Fast forward to the Maltese archipelago. One of the favorite holiday destinations of tourists has long been considered a place of historical importance. One of the oldest mysterious megalithic structures of mankind is located here - the megalithic temples of Malta and Gozo.
Amazing age of buildings
The true history of the local ancient inhabitants is currently unknown. It is impossible to say who exactly they were, for what purpose they made this trip to the islands, but the buildings of these skilled craftsmen still stand to this day.
Scientists believe that the origin of the civilization of the Maltese builders takes about 7,000 years ago. For the most part, it was a Neolithic culture - all the buildings are made in stone. But it is not worth talking about the complete isolation of the inhabitants, it is believed that they had developed trade relations with the European part, in particular with Italy.
For a long time it was believed that the megalithic structures of Malta were of a later origin, but after radiocarbon analysis, everything fell into place. Now the palm in the construction of the largest stone structures goes from Egypt and Mesopotamia to Malta. A truly fascinating and significant discovery for understanding human history. The very period of the creation of the megalithic temples of Malta and Gozo (approximately the middle of the 4th - the end of the 3rd millennium BC) was called the “epoch of temple builders”.
Megaliths of Malta: Highlights
A total of 23 megalithic sanctuaries have been found here. All of them are made of local limestone. In the course of further agricultural activities of local residents, many temples were dismantled for the needs of the Maltese peasants, so some of the temples are presented in the form of ruins, but the size of these ruins makes even the most sophisticated spectator be amazed.
Only four temples have survived to this day in relative safety - Jgantiya, Hagar Kvim, Mnajdra, Tarshyen.
Ggantija in the heart of Gozo
Ggantija
Ggantija ("Tower of the Giant") - the oldest of the megaliths, is located in the center of the island of Gozo. Ggantija is a complex of two temples. The remains of a larger temple are surprising - the ruined facade now reaches a height of six meters, which speaks of its greater grandeur in ancient times. It is also worth remembering that the construction of such facilities was carried out without modern construction equipment, in the conditions of the Stone Age. The temple is partly executed in the cyclopean style of masonry - the stones are held by their own weight. There are also places for hanging sacrificed animals, recesses for washing feet. The entrance to the sanctuary is fenced with large stones. Inside the sanctuary itself, an altar has been preserved, in which niches for ancient deities and holes for bloodletting the victim remained. The fence of the Ggantija temple surrounds both temples. Some of the stones that form it weigh about 50 tons, which further casts doubt on the human origin of this structure.
Hagar Kwim - the largest temple complex
Hagar Quim
Hagar Qwim is the next temple on our list of Malta's megaliths. Concurrently, the largest and best preserved temple complex. Here you can see everything the same as in Ggantiy - a wall, a sanctuary, an altar.
Tarxien - three in one
Tarshjen is a complex of three temples, the pinnacle of the development of Maltese architecture. At the entrance of the third temple, in the foreseeable past, there was a statue of the ancient goddess of the local population. According to scientists, its size reached 2.7 m in height. Only its lower part has survived, the original of which is kept in the museum of the capital of Malta. A copy of it has been installed on the spot.
Mnajdra - heading for the sun
Mnajdra
It is worth noting the attachment of the Maltese builders to the choice of the place and location of the building. There is something similar to the Chinese "feng shui". As well as many ancient architects, the Maltese, in addition to the location in the landscape, also tied to the sky. So the temple of Mnajdra is involved in such astronomical phenomena as the winter and summer solstices and equinoxes.
Hypogeum - underground temples
As for the very culture of the inhabitants of Malta, there is a great influence of religion. Temples for the gods were built with high quality and for centuries, and special structures for greater safety were generally built underground.
Hypogeum Hal-Saflieni
So one of these structures is the hypogeum (an underground structure carved into the rock) Khal-Saflieni, near the Tarshien temple. In its structure, this hypogeum is similar to its external counterparts with mirror accuracy. There is also a hall and an altar. But according to the functional position, there was still not a temple, but a burial place. For many centuries this place was a burial place for local inhabitants. Due to this, the Hal-Saflieni system is full of different corridors and grottoes in three tiers with a total area of 480 square meters. m. It is believed that about 6-7 thousand people found a resting place here ancient world.
Secrets of the Maltese buildings
In general, one gets the impression that the Maltese archipelago was a kind of major religious center of the ancient world, a place of pilgrimage for the Mediterranean inhabitants. Temples, in addition to the spiritual role, took on the functions of administrative, medical, financial institutions, further strengthening their central influence in society.
The end of the civilization of ancient Malta is shrouded in deep mystery. Researchers give a very definite date - 2300 BC. The reasons are unknown, traces of epidemics, military conflicts, natural disasters have not been found. People just disappeared without giving a hint of their further fate. But whatever happens to them, the megaliths of Malta will remain a great monument of the world heritage of human civilization.
Video about the megaliths of Malta:
All the megalithic temples of Malta have long been discovered and studied by archaeologists, but these buildings still raise a lot of questions from scientists around the world.
The main mystery of the Maltese temples lies in their origin: these structures were built long before the Egyptian pyramids (according to official estimates) - in the Bronze Age. Their age is over 5000 years.
It is curious that all these structures were built without the use of iron tools. Each megalithic temple complex developed independently, while the scale of all megaliths is so grandiose that the locals believed that they were built by giant giants.
Nothing is known about the builders of these unique majestic buildings - these people disappeared without a trace a millennium after the temples were built. Today, thanks to the latest research, scientists have put forward new hypotheses that will probably shed light on the mystery of megalithic temples.
First of all, it should be said that the construction of temples in Malta began long before the start of buildings in continental Europe (the oldest known is Cairn de Barnenez, Finistère, France, 4500 BC), which means that the Maltese megaliths are in many ways prototypes for monuments in other regions. Scientists have established that the cultures of prehistoric Malta are largely associated with Sicily, so archaeologists suggest that Malta was the cult center of the Sicilian Neolithic-Paleometal peoples.
All megalithic temples of Malta are in the list of objects of the world cultural heritage UNESCO. The oldest complex is considered to be a complex of two temples of Ggantiy on the island of Gozo. Both of these temples are built from blocks of coral limestone.
Some blocks weigh about fifty tons and reach a length of five meters. Temples have five apses each (an apse is a ledge of a building, semicircular, faceted or rectangular in plan, covered with a semi-dome or closed semi-vault), connected by a corridor that leads to a trifolia (the so-called symmetrical figure, bounded by three identical circles, the centers of which are located at the vertices equilateral triangle).
Another grandiose temple of Malta - Hajar, stands on a hilltop. Of great interest is the decor of the temple - the walls of the structure are decorated with deities and animals carved from obsidian and silicon. Between the cliffs south coast On the island of Malta, there is a complex of three temples - Mnajdra, in terms of layout resembling a clover leaf (this is the trifolia). The oldest is the upper temple. It is a three-apse structure made of coral limestone.
The Lower Temple, built according to exact astronomical laws, enjoys increased interest among scientists. So, according to the plan of the architects, on September 22 and March 20, the sun's rays pass exactly along a certain line in the temple. The middle temple was built between the two above named in the Tarxien period.
The earliest megaliths include the temples of Ta "Hajrat, supposedly built on the site of a former village and characterized by a non-standard layout. The most complex architectural complex of all the temples of Malta is Tarshin, dating back to 3600-2500 BC and consisting of four In the 1960s, scientists also discovered temples of Sorrow, which are poorly preserved.
It is important to note that the change of temple periods did not lead to the destruction or desolation of the former temples, the local population continued to use them for burials, which indicates a significant continuity. Among the most widespread hypotheses about the reasons for the decline of the megalithic temples of Malta, the following should be highlighted: aridization of the climate, Civil War, foreign influence, land depletion or other natural resources Malta or Sicily.
The flourishing of the culture of the period of megalithic temples remains unclear to scientists. So, in Malta there is no indisputable evidence that the island was inhabited in the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic. The Neolithic appears here as if from nowhere - without preliminary phases, while it includes the main achievements of the civilization of that time: ceramics, agriculture and cattle breeding. The early (pre-Temple) Neolithic of Malta is represented by the Ghar Dalam cave, in which the oldest evidence of the Neolithic dates back to 5400 BC. e.
And only recently, scientists have noted a certain feature in the location of the temples, which is able to shed light on the mystery of ancient structures. In particular, archaeologists have discovered a burial in the form of a cromlech (ring of stones), located in the center of several megalithic temples. During the study, scientists noticed that several more burials of the archipelago are located near the temples.
As a result, the researchers were able to make a surprising discovery - all the temple complexes of the islands are subject to the same principle of the building system, where the grave structure is located in the center and the temples are at some distance around. This guess will allow scientists to organize a systematic search for new, previously hidden buildings.
It seems surprising that in such a densely developed archipelago as Malta, archaeologists still find new megaliths, albeit in a rather deplorable form. The fact is that many of the buildings were taken away for construction in subsequent times, and some megalithic structures, according to scientists, are located in built-up areas, and in order to find them, special research by archaeologists is needed.
It must also be said that recently scientists have come to an interesting conclusion. According to experts, the megalithic structures of Malta served as prototypes of the mythological Champs Elysees, where, according to the ideas of the ancient Greeks, the souls of the heroes beloved by the gods live after death. This realm of the dead, much like the Egyptian fields of Ialu, was located on an island to the west of Greece.
Scientists note that the penetration of Europeans into Malta can be indicated by those encountered after 3000 BC. e. single cases of cremation, since cremation is often one of the fairly reliable indicators of their occurrence in Europe.
In particular, urn cremations in cysts and dolmens, characteristic of the next phase - the Tarxien necropolis - indicate the penetration of the Casteluccio synthetic culture into Malta, containing both megalithic (cysts, dolmens), Indo-European (cremation) and Balkan-Danubian (urns) elements .
Experts have established that during the Bronze - Early Iron Age, Malta experienced several waves of migration, as a result of which continuity with the megalithic peoples was lost. It is likely that it was with these migrations that contacts were established with the entire Mediterranean, in particular with Egypt. Evidence of the penetration of the Cretan population into Malta can also serve as references in ancient sources to the conquests of Minos in the west.
Thus, today, thanks to the work of archaeologists, scientists are gradually getting closer to the answer to the question of who and for what purposes the mysterious megalithic structures of Malta were built.
May 30, 2012, 22:26The main mystery of the Maltese Islands are megalithic structures. It is believed that these are temple objects, and that they were erected starting from 4500 BC. But, for many centuries, two main destructive forces acted on the islands: the first - the wars did not subside, and the second - the Maltese population, who needed stone for their own purposes, dismantled ancient temples for building material. 
And just one example of a war - in 1943, Malta became a springboard for the Allied invasion of Sicily and attacks on Italy. And the Maltese lands were devastated: Malta went through the heaviest bombardment (within 154 days, 6,700 tons of bombs were dropped on it). Another factor: ancient stone slabs were seized not only by ordinary people. They also went to the construction of harbors and forts, the latter were then actively used by the Order of Malta during the Great (Turkish) siege, they also went to the construction or restoration of cities. 
If we take into account the third factor - time, then today most of the temple buildings are piles of ruins: randomly scattered blocks of limestone, ruined remains of walls and fences. In total, the remains of 23 temples have been discovered on the islands to date. 
There is not a single temple that has survived in its original form to this day. It is believed that only four of all have survived relatively intact - the temples of Ggantiy, Hajar Kvim, Mnajdra and Tarshin. But, in fact, this is not so: in the pursuit of tourist attractiveness, they suffered a different sad fate - an illiterate and poor-quality reconstruction, but in fact - a disgusting remake. In the future, this issue will be addressed separately, but for now we have no choice but to get acquainted with their modern characteristics. Ggantija The temples of Ggantija in Shara (Xaghra - "giant") are located in the center of the island of Gozo and are one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Today, the Ggantija temples are believed to have been built around 3600 BC. The structure consists of two separate temples with different entrances, but a common rear wall. Each of the temples has a somewhat concave facade, in front of which is a platform of large stone blocks. Most ancient temple The complex consists of three semicircular rooms arranged in the shape of a trefoil. Modern scholars believe that such a trinity symbolizes the past, present and future or birth, life and death. Excavations here began in the middle of the nineteenth century. Scientists have so far managed to extract the entire complex from underground, but have not been able to clearly answer the eternal question: why? Another question they have is about the method of construction. Due to the gigantic size of the megaliths, when some of them reach up to 8 m in length and weigh more than 50 tons, the locals believed in the past that the temples were built by giants. All Maltese megalithic temples are created according to the same scheme. All of them are designed in the same architectural style. Scientists believe that it was a unique civilization. But, there is no answer to the question of why and how this civilization disappeared. It remains an unsolved mystery where the builders of the temples of Malta went. After all, nowhere else mediterranean coast no traces of their presence, even a short one, have been found. Hagar Qim The Hajar Kwim temple is located near the village of Krendi, about 15 km southwest of the capital of Malta - Valletta. Discovered in 1839, Khadzhar Kvim (lit. "prayer stones") is dated ~ 3600-3200 years. BC. The building stands on top of a hill overlooking the sea and the island of Filfla, and is a single complex of 3 temples surrounded by a common massive wall. 
This megalithic object of antiquity is decorated with carved spirals, animals and idols, all made of obsidian and flint. Giant limestone slabs form a series of ovals placed at the top of the building. Hajar Kwim is the largest and well-preserved temple complex in Malta. It, having the shape of a clover leaf, consists of four or five apses, has a courtyard and a facade. This design is typical of Neolithic temples throughout Malta. Mnajdra
Mnajdra (lit. "view") lies at the foot of the hill on which Hajar Kwim is located, on a steep stretch of coast overlooking the islet of Filfla. The age of the structure dates back to 3.5-3.2 thousand years BC. His three temples are perhaps the best preserved on the island. It is believed to be oriented to sunrise at the equinox (March 20 and September 22) and solstice (June 21 and December 21). The first and believed to be the oldest temple (northeast) has a simple three-apse structure. Its construction dates back to 3600-3200 BC, following the construction of Ggantija. The interior walls have been restored, but the small pillars are original. The nearest temple is the largest of all, but the most impressive is still the lower (southwestern) temple of Mnajdra. True, his facade is badly damaged. Artifacts found on Mnajdra include stone and clay figurines, shells and stone ornaments, flint tools and pottery. It is believed that the absence of any metal objects is one of the signs of its Neolithic origin. Tarxien Temples The Tarshin temples (lit. "large stone slabs") are dated to 3600-2500 BC. BC, this complex, which includes four megalithic temples, is the most complex of all the temple buildings in Malta. Numerous altars, carved images of animals and spirals, the remains of altars - all this is believed to indicate a complex set of religious beliefs of the ancient Maltese. Tarxien is much worse preserved today than Ggantija or Hajar Kvim, but despite this, its grandiose ruins still impress visitors. Hypogeum Hal Saflieni Hypogeum The word "hypogeum" in Greek means "under the ground". The Hal Saflini Hypogeum is an underground rock-cut complex used by temple builders, believed to be both a sanctuary and a burial place. It was discovered in 1902 during construction work. Its three subterranean levels date back to the period between about 3600 and 2400 BC. e. This monument is considered one of the main prehistoric monuments in the world. Hypogeum, or underground cave, is a unique monument and a magnificent example of underground architecture. Excavations at this site have yielded rich archaeological material - pottery, human bones, personal adornments such as beads and amulets, figurines and small animal carvings. The hypogeum consists of halls, rooms and passages carved into the rock, and occupying an area of about 500 square meters. m, a total of 33 rooms, niches and chambers. The rooms, carved in stone, vary in size and shape, and are decorated according to various canons of craftsmanship. The complex is located on three levels - the upper level (3600-3300 BC), the middle (3300-3000 BC) and the lower (3150-2500 BC). The deepest room on the lower level is 10.6 meters below the ground. The upper level consists of a large cavity with a central passage and chambers carved into either side. The middle level consists of a variety of chambers with very smooth wall finishes that give the impression of masonry. The Hypogeum is also interesting because the walls of its chambers are painted with red ocher, an ornament in the form of a spiral. It is believed that this ornament symbolizes prosperity and a source of subsistence, the image of a spiral was associated with the idea of continuation and renewal of life. After 2500 BC. it turned into a necropolis, in which the remains of 30 thousand people were found. In the sacred well were found: the accompanying inventory and figurines, in particular, a terracotta figurine of a sleeping priestess. Some of the chambers today are left for subsequent excavations. Ar Dalam (Ghar Dalam) The cave of Ar Dalam is a very important historical site, as it was here that the earliest traces of human settlements in Malta were found, dating back about 7400 years ago. The exposition consists of two parts: the cave itself and the museum, which exhibits many remarkable finds, from animal bones to monuments of human material culture. The cave was dug by a river, with the channel turning at right angles. The cave goes 144 meters deep, but only the first 50 meters are open to visitors. In Valletta, the administrative center of Malta, archaeologists also found a network underground tunnels. And there are doubts whether it is underground city Order of Malta, or ancient plumbing or sewer. For many centuries in Europe it was believed that the Crusader Knights built an underground city on the Mediterranean island of Malta, and among the population there were rumors about the secret passages and military labyrinths of the Order of the Hospitallers. Already in our time, workers found an underground reservoir right under the town square. Near its bottom, at a depth of about 12 m, they also found a hole in the wall - the entrance to the tunnel. It went under the square, and then connected to other channels. An attempt to pass through these corridors was unsuccessful - they were blocked. All found corridors have a high enough vault so that an adult can easily pass there. However, researchers believe that this is only a small part of the once vast plumbing system.
The mysterious Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most popular places vacation travelers from different countries. And it's not just the beaches of Malta or its direct connection with the Knights Templar and their untold wealth, simply, there are grandiose sights of historical significance - the oldest megalithic temples and religious shrines. Moreover, all these ancient buildings are shrouded in mystery and many mysteries, the answer to which scientists still cannot unravel. No one knows who built the ancient megalithic temples, with the help of what unknown machines or tools they managed to install such bulks and where did these builders go? From the skilled craftsmen of antiquity, only their sanctuaries remained, well preserved to this day.
Scientists suggest that the civilization of the ancient Maltese builders lived at least seven thousand years ago, had a Neolithic culture and erected gigantic stone structures. The oldest man-made religious objects in Malta are a thousand years older than the famous Egyptian pyramids. Megalithic temples are structures assembled from huge blocks of stone, in shape these sanctuaries look like a blossoming flower, but in fact they are “cromlechs” - circular compositions created by vertical installation of slabs. It is interesting that all the Maltese temples and ancient catacombs were built without the use of cementing mortars, from only partially hand-crafted stones. These blocks of stones reach fifty tons in weight and exceed eight meters in height. Which raises a lot of questions, including: how did the islanders of Malta manage to create a large-scale and grandiose architectural megalithic ensemble with their primitive tools? There are so many mysteries and inconsistencies that some scientists even voice a version about the alien origin of these builders.
A small Mediterranean state that can be traveled in a day, which is very attractive for tourists. In addition, there is a very developed infrastructure that allows you to quickly and easily get to any historical sites. In total, twenty-three ancient megalithic sanctuary temples have been found in Malta to date. But, unfortunately, many of them are poorly preserved, as for centuries, local peasants dismantled their walls for their construction and household needs. That is why the Maltese religious megalithic temples, for the most part, can be seen as ruins, but even those amaze with their size and scope of the builders' ideas. Each ancient sanctuary of Malta was erected in a certain era. But even after the appearance of new temples, people continued to bury people in old buildings. All the megalithic buildings of Malta were built according to the same principle: there were tombs in the center, around which there were temples. Several megalithic temples have been well preserved to this day: Ggantia, Hagar Kvim, Mnajdra, Tarshien, Mdjarr, Skroba, Khal-Saflieni Hypogeum, Ar Dalam.
The ancient buildings of Malta are majestic and powerful, and even rather rough, but with a romantic touch of millennia, they have a unique look. Unknown builders of the Maltese temples did not make megaliths in any place, their construction and location on the ground had a certain binding. Construction in Malta was carried out in accordance with a certain set of rules, created according to the Chinese doctrine of space harmonization - "Feng Shui", in addition, megalithic sanctuaries hid in their location and binding to the starry sky. In the Mnajdra megalithic complex, all buildings are associated with astronomical phenomena: the winter and summer solstices, as well as the equinoxes.
- are located on the territory of a small Maltese settlement, famous for its beautiful pastoral landscapes, numerous vineyards, farms where natural agricultural products are produced. There are two prehistoric megalithic sights of Malta at once: the Ta’ Hajrat temple complex and the Neolithic Skrob complex. In these places, scientists managed to make a lot of interesting archaeological finds. The temples are small in size, but important in terms of history. This ancient buildings Neolithic islands of Gozo. The ruins of the megalith Ta-Hajrat - "Ta" Hagrat" are dated 3600-3000 BC. A kilometer away is another megalithic complex of Skorba - "Skorba", dated 4400-3000 BC. These structures were found by scientists recently in the sixties Twentieth century Little information has been collected about them, but it is known that in the Neolithic there were located the oldest settlements of Malta.
- was built in the place of today locality Paola, in Malta six thousand years ago. This unique underground religious sanctuary is the oldest temple in the world. Fortunately for contemporaries, it is well preserved. But in order for the temple complex to stand further, the number of people visiting it with excursions is strictly limited. On the day of Hypogeum Khal-Saflieni, no more than eighty tourists can see. That is why travelers planning to book this excursion to the Hypogeum well in advance. The hypogees, like other megalithic Maltese temples, were built to last for centuries, and to ensure this safety, the sanctuaries were built underground. In terms of functionality, this is more likely not a temple complex, but a necropolis - a centuries-old tomb for local residents. Khal-Saflieni temple has many corridors, grottoes, rooms, they are divided into three tiers. There are more than thirty halls, chambers, niches of various sizes and shapes, and the deepest room of the lower tier is a corridor that goes ten meters underground. The walls of the mid-level rooms are very smooth, scientists have suggested that this is masonry. In addition, they were interested in the ornament that adorns all the halls of the complex, made of red ocher: these are patterns in the form of a spiral - a symbol of prosperity and the infinity of life. total area Hypogeum - four hundred and eighty square meters. Over the centuries, about thirty thousand people were buried here. The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni was discovered at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was immediately called the most unusual example of underground architecture in Malta. During excavations, scientists discovered unique archaeological finds: bones, ceramics, stone and wooden figurines of animals, miniature figurines, women's jewelry - all this turned the view modern people about the Maltese islanders of antiquity. Excavations of the Khal-Saflieni Hypogeum Cave are still ongoing, constantly delighting archaeologists with new finds.
- located on the island of Gozo. This is the oldest megalithic sanctuary, consisting of two temples. Ggantija is similar in shape to a clover leaf, which symbolizes the cult of fertility, as evidenced by the figurines discovered by scientists during excavations. From the largest temple, only six-meter ruins of the facade remained, but they also testify to the former greatness of the megalith in ancient times. Especially if you take into account the fact that such religious objects were built in the conditions of the Stone Age. The temple has a cyclopean masonry, that is, when the stones are held under their own weight. Here you can see the altar and sacred places-altars, above them the animals brought as a gift to the gods were hung up, letting them bleed. There are recessed baths at the entrance to the temple so that parishioners can wash their feet before entering the sanctuary. With another temple, it is united by one common wall. Temples are fenced with large stones, many of which weigh at least fifty tons. The ancient megalithic sanctuary of Ggantija was discovered in the nineteenth century.
- the largest and well-preserved religious complex of Malta, located fifteen kilometers from the country's capital - Valletta. This spacious sanctuary on a hill, consists of three temples, enclosed by stones. Scientists have found on the top of the hill oval limestone slabs decorated with elegant ornaments, as well as figurines - animal figurines and idols-gods made of silicon. This megalith of Malta, like many others, has the shape of a clover leaf, which means that it is dedicated to the cult of fertility. Much to the surprise of archaeologists, the temple of Hajar Kvim has survived to this day almost in its original form.
- it consists of three temples and is deservedly considered the best example of ancient Maltese architecture. Many thousands of years ago, next to the entrance to this sanctuary, there was a statue of an ancient locally revered goddess. This statue was about three meters high, today only the lower part of it remains - bare feet and part of a pleated skirt, but this is a copy, and the original is in the museum of the capital city of Valletta. The Tarsjen megalithic complex is the most complex architectural object, despite the fact that it is poorly preserved, it invariably impresses travelers who come to Malta with the refined craftsmanship and talent of ancient architects: mysterious cromlechs have ideal and verified details. The lower temple of the megalithic complex tells us that the Maltese builders had ideas about astronomical phenomena: since every year in September and March, the sun's rays move along the same verified trajectory. The temple has a stone altar, which is decorated with a spiral pattern. There is a hole in the altar, in which archaeologists managed to find the bones of sacrificial animals and a special ritual knife. In addition, scientists found a large bowl in the temple, which was carved from a huge stone slab, but its purpose remained unknown. All these finds made it possible to argue that the Maltese had a whole complex set of religious beliefs many thousands of years ago.
- a giant network of tunnels with traces of human settlements, located on the islands of the Maltese archipelago. This find to this day excites the minds of historians who say that this is most likely an underground city of the knights of the Order of Malta, who created secret labyrinths and passages in the thickness of the earth. Other scientists say that this is an ancient sewer of an unknown civilization of the builders of the Maltese megaliths. This find raises a lot of questions and assumptions, but there is not a single exact answer.
Getting acquainted with a large number of megalithic temple buildings in Malta, the thought involuntarily arises that many millennia ago there was the largest religious center of the ancient world, where pilgrims from other countries and islands of the Mediterranean arrived. Megalithic temples performed not only a spiritual function, but also had the role of administrative, medical, financial and public institutions. For scientists, it is still a mystery - the end of the ancient Maltese civilization, but they were able to establish an approximate date - 2300 BC. The reasons for the disappearance of the great Maltese builders have not yet been found, there are no traces of destructive epidemics, no traces of war, no traces of natural disasters, these people simply disappeared somewhere, leaving only megaliths reminiscent of their existence. These ancient temples of Malta will forever be the greatest monument of world cultural heritage. In 1980, megalithic sanctuaries were included in the "List world heritage UNESCO".
For tourists planning a trip to Malta and acquaintance with megaliths, it is necessary to book an excursion in advance. approximate price- one hundred and twenty dollars per person. Near all the listed ancient religious buildings of Malta there are museums where there are interactive screens, all archaeological finds are shown there, there are models of megaliths, and guides will tell a lot of interesting things about these ancient structures planets.
