Megalithic temples Malta is a group of prehistoric megalithic temples. The megalithic temples of Malta are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most ancient man-made buildings of man are located here, and these are Megalithic temples. More than 5,500 years ago, a thousand years before construction, the local islanders were able to build colossal buildings that still amaze with their size. ( 11 photos)

1. The oldest stone monumental complex was created here in Malta. Megalithic temples were built here around the middle of the 4th - the end of the 3rd millennium BC.

2. In total, the remains of 23 temples were found in Malta. They are built from limestone, or rather from two of its varieties: relatively hard coral limestone and softer globigerine.

3. Unfortunately, today most of the temples are a pile of ruins, the fact is that the locals once plundered the ancient temples for their own needs.

4. Most ancient temple surviving in excellent condition to this day, was built around 3600 BC, this is the Ggantija temple, translated as “Giant’s Tower”.

5. All temples are built of stone blocks, the size of which is 8 meters, and the weight is tens of tons. It is still a mystery how primitive people were able to build such huge temples.

6. Some temples have cellars that reach 25 meters in length. Under one of the temples, an altar was discovered, on which statuettes of the gods once stood.

7. Here you can feel some ancient, majestic atmosphere that comes from these huge walls, it’s even hard to imagine what was here and who walked on this earth.

8. Today, anyone can visit this mysterious place.

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 Egyptian pyramids(according to official calculation) - 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. Every 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 peoples of the Sicilian Neolithic-Paleometal.

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. The 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 a 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 in recent times scientists came 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.

Year of appearance: 4 thousand years BC.

On the islands of Malta, scientists have discovered amazingly preserved ancient temples, whose age is more than 5,500 years. Seven megalithic temples, which today are among the historical sites of world significance, have been used for more than a thousand years and are considered as a single architectural complex. During the study of the temples, priceless historical artifacts were discovered, which made it possible to shed light on certain periods. ancient history islands.

So, fragments of pottery were found in the temples, which confirms the theory of the existence of a highly developed civilization on the islands in ancient times. Scientists are sure that many more priceless treasures are hidden in Malta historical monuments, some elements of which were completely lost in the 19th century. During this period, Malta began to be developed for agricultural purposes; during the clearing of land by the peasants, many ruins of ancient buildings were destroyed.

In total, more than twenty ancient temples were discovered on the island, among which only seven have miraculously survived to this day. Of particular interest are four temples: Hagar Qwim, Jgantia, Tarshyen and Mnajdra. The oldest among them is the Jgantija temple, and the largest is Hagar Kvim. Mnajdra temple stands out from the rest unusual place location and orientation in space, more than 5,000 years ago it was amazingly built in full accordance with the canons of Feng Shui.

Megalithic temples of Malta and attractions around

You can travel well in the Megalithic Temples of Malta area. Be sure to take your offspring to the nearby Malta National Aquarium, he will open the marine world of the Malta region and the entire planet to him. Cathedral Katidral Metropolitan Ta’ San Pawl nearby is definitely worth combining with a visit to the Megalithic Temples of Malta. You can visit the wonderful castle ensemble Verdala Palace. Next, we recommend discovering the legendary entertainment center of Malta - the Splash and Fun amusement park.

Megalithic Temples of Malta - interactive map

Useful establishments nearby

Nearby airports:
» Luqa Airport MLA - in 5 km
» Lampedusa Airport LMP - in 170 km
» Sigonella NAF Airport NSY - in 174 km

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 riches, it's just that there are grandiose sights 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. These are the oldest buildings on the island of Gozo from the Neolithic period. The ruins of the megalith Ta-Hajrat - "Ta" Hagrat" are dated 3600-3000 BC. Another megalithic complex of Skorba - "Skorba", dated 4400-3000 BC, is located a kilometer away. 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 rather 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 idea of ​​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 skill and talent of ancient architects: mysterious cromlechs have ideal and verified details. lower temple 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 in the temple a large bowl, which was carved from a huge stone slab but its purpose remains 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 underground city knights of the Order of Malta, who created secret labyrinths and passages in the depths 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 structures in Malta, the thought involuntarily arises that many millennia ago there was the largest religious center ancient world where pilgrims arrived from other countries and islands of the Mediterranean. 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 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 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.