Ta' Ħaġrat

Hi!
I would like to tell you something about last temple- Ta' Ħaġrat
Ta' Ħaġrat is set up on the perimeter of  Mgarr.
The excavation of plentiful pottery deposits show that a village stood on the site and predates the temples themselves. This early pottery is dated to the Mgarr phase (3800-3600 BCE).

Building: The two parts are less regularly planned and smaller in size than many of the other neolithic temples in Malta. Unlike other megalithic temples in Malta no decorated blocks were discovered; however a number of artifacts were found. Perhaps most intriguing is a scale model of a temple, sculpted in globigerina limestone. The larger Ta' Ħaġrat temple dates from the Ġgantija phase (3600–3200 BCE), the smaller is dated to the Saflieni phase (3300–3000 BCE).Ta' Ħaġrat is built out of lower coralline limestone, the oldest exposed rock in the Maltese Islands. The complex contains two adjacent temples.

                                                         Floor map of  Ta' Ħaġrat

Building plan resembles clover leaf

Tarxien

Hey, guys, nice to see you again!

Today we want to point out one of wondrous Maltese sanctuary. It’s named Tarxien. This is four meghalitic temples, which was made between 3600 and 2500 BC in the southern Malta. Tarxien is enter to list of UNESCO with others Maltese temples. Objects put up with shaped blocks of boulde, ornamented with hewed and depicted adnorments. Complecs is divided at five sections. Most important are Southern Temple and Focal Temple.

In period Neolithic and Bronze Age this temple were used regulary for ritual victim of animals. Denote about it discoveries of of a flint blade, a long bone scapula, animal bones, and seashells within a carved altar. 


Southern Temple is embelish cuase of spirals. As you can notice, this patterns are very plain and alike.
It's wondrous and not easily believe, that prehistoric inhabitants of Malta perform it without special tools!

 
In the Focal Temple you descry a shape of Fat Lady. We found just a down part of her body :)

In the Center Sanctuary are also the rock blocks are ornamented bas-reliefs of animals: bovines and  sows.

"Calypso's Cave"

Island Gozo is one of enigmatic places on Malta. There, you find a beach with red sand, formidable scenery of azure sea and Calypso's Cave. Story of this grotto lean on Greek's mythology

I think, that we all familiar with one of well-known protagonist of Homer (the originator of “Iliad” and “Odyssey”), king of Itaka- Odysseus. If you know, he was an artificer of Trojan horse, what made Greeks win a Troy War. When he go back to his fatherland, Itaka, he undergo a lot of formidable and perilous adventures.
Once, after a storm, he landed on the island Ogygia. Castaway was found by Calipso- nymph, who resided in arresting cave, around this grotto grows cypress, aspens and popples.

Calypso give Odysseus to drink nectar and nourish him ambrosia. It makes him quick to recuperation. Nymph want, that Itaka’s ruler become her immortal husband. Odysseus need to remain with Calypso seven years. Luckily, on Ogygia come along Hermes (god’s messenger), who compelled her let go traveler and help him return home. She fall in love with Odysseus, so reluctantly but faithfully, aid him do a raft.

As we say, the "Calypso's Cave" is place,when nymph Calypso heal Odysseus. That's legend's says.
Is it truth?

It doesn't matter- this is a marvelous place and pen annum peoples come in droves here.
They believe, that it's uncanny venue.

The faith makes miracles, isn't it?

Mnajdra

Mnajdra

Mnajdra is a complex site consisting of three temples overlooking an oval forecourt.

The first and oldest temple is a simple three-apsed building and dates to the Ġgantija phase (3600-3200 BC). Mnajdra has got small rubble walls. They are a modern reconstruction but the small uprights, with their pitted decoration  are original. The most impressive of the Mnajdra temples is the third, with its largely intact façade and bench constructed in the early Tarxien phase (3150 – 2500 BC).

Mnajdra is about 500 metres from the Ħaġar Qim megalithic complex.

What about Functions of this temple?

The lowest temple is astronomically aligned and probably was used as an astronomical observation. On the vernal and the autumnal equinox sunlight passes through the main doorway and lights up the major axis. On the solstices sunlight illuminates the edges of megaliths to the left and right of this doorway.

Archaeologists found there some ceremonial objects and tools, for example:  sacrificial flint knives and rope holes that were possibly used to constrain animals for sacrifice. These structures were not used as tombs since no human remains were found. The temples contain furniture such as stone benches and tables that give clues to their use. Probably temples were used for religious purposes, perhaps to heal illness or to promote fertility.

But if you are planning a visit to the Mnajdra, you should know that even the facade of this temple  is roped off, so you will not get a chance to sit on the ancient stone bench that runs along its base.

The Ggantija Temples

So, where are we now, then?
Let's start with Ggantija.

The Ggantija Temples are two prehistoric temples on Gozo, the second-largest island in Malta. One of them is the oldest stone structure in the world (5,800 years old - built between 3600 and 3000 BC), predating Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids by hundreds of years.

Maybe you're wondering how was this sacral building created?

There is an ancient legend telling that the temple walls were built in one day and one night by a female giant named Sunsuna, who did it while nursing a baby. Ggantija is Maltese  "giant's grotto." and means obviously giantess.

Surprised?

By contrast, archaeologists show their version of events, where the Ggantija temples were dedicated to the Great Earth Mother, a goddess of fertility.Evidence indicates there was an oracle here, as at the much-later Temple of Apollo at Delphi.In addition to being the oldest, the Gjantija temples are the most complete shrine complexes on Malta.  

It is hard to imagine how these ancient peoples were able to hoist stones weighing several tons into place, isn't it?

How do you think why builders have been so successful?
Let us explain.

The slabs may have been rolled into place on "roller stones" about the size of cannon balls, which have been found on the site.

The Ggjantija complex is characterized by round, curved architecture, reflecting a powerful, full-figured Mother Goddess( seen above). The two shrines themselves suggest the body of the Earth Mother, with broad hips and full breasts. The ritual rooms are round, and it is thought that the priestess entered symbolically into her Mother's womb and returned reborn.(CLICK TO SEE MORE) The temples were roofed with great domes, painted in red on the inside. Unfortunately, nowadays there are only ruins left.

The altars in the larger temple are trilithons; that is, made of three stones to form a vertical surface. There is evidence of animal sacrifice on these altars, most of which have been reconstructed. Another interesting feature is the evidence of a sacred fire - a stone hearth, some paving stones of which have been reddened by fire, can be seen on the floor of the inner right-hand niche of the larger temple.

The short part of the story being told by quide is here

What you probably didn't know is that  few artifacts have been found at the place. Now they are at the exhibition in the national museum. They include a small clay figure of a full-figured sleeping goddess( the one that you can see above) that was found in an egg-shaped chamber.

Some architectural decoration can still be seen in its original position in the temple, including three stone blocks with spiral carvings and several stones with decorative pitting

Alright, that's good.
I'm preety sure that's enough for today's evening :)

Good night !
I hope you will see beautiful Malta in your dreams! ;) 

What is this blog about? - Indroduction and general informations

Hello everyone !
Have you ever heard about Maltese Temples?
"NO"? Don't worry. We are going to broaden your horizons.

Ready? Steady? GO !

Malta is famous for its' Megalithic Temples- the oldest free-standing structures on Earth , tombs and so on.
The Island owns expanded phenomenons and rock formations inter alia Calypso's Cave, connected with grotto mentioned in "Odyssey" written by Homer.

Maltese Temples are:
-Ġgantija
-Mnajdra
-Ta' Ħaġrat
-Tarxien
-Calypso(cave)

  The map of Maltese Islands is here --> CLICK !
The inscrutable theory about alien's help ---> HERE! ( watch from 35 minute)
  



We must be going now (supper time :) )
Sorry!