Ġgantija Megalithic Temples

Temples of Ġgantija

On the Mediterranean island of Gozo, the Neolithic megalithic temple complex of Ġgantija (Maltese pronunciation: [dantija], “Giantess”). Some of the megaliths at the Gantija Temples are over five meters long and weigh more than fifty tons. The name of these archaic temples originates from the legend that giants erected them. These prehistoric structures demonstrate a high level of cultural, aesthetic, and technological achievement for such a young period in human history.

The Ġgantija Temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising two temples that date back to around 3600 and 3200 BC. The two Ġgantija temples are over 5500 years old, making them the world’s second-oldest produced religious monuments after Göbekli Tepe in modern-day Turkey. UNESCO has designated the Megalithic Temples of Malta and other similar sites as World Heritage Sites. The construction is believed to be one of the world’s earliest free-standing structures, predating Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

The temples have been kept in great shape despite their age. The rough Coralline Limestone slabs that make up the border wall that separates the two temples demonstrate this. One of the reasons for the monument’s preservation is the extensive use of the hard-wearing Coralline Limestone. Globigerina Limestone was used for interior furnishings such as doors, altars, and ornamental slabs.

In each temple, a central hallway is flanked by several apses. According to two plaster fragments with red ochre on display at the Gantija Temples Interpretation Centre, internal walls had been plastered and painted over.

Animal bone fragments discovered at this location suggest community ceremonies and eating. There are multiple libation holes in the floor where liquid offerings were poured in addition to the stone hearths. The vast courtyard of the two temples was purposely built to accommodate the crowd.

The Ġgantija Temples are accessible through a recently constructed Interpretation Center, allowing visitors to learn about various aspects of Neolithic life. The centre also displays some of the most exciting finds we made at several prehistoric sites in the vicinity.