Megalithic Temples of Malta

马耳他巨石庙

🇮🇹 Malta📅 1980 Inscribed

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Seven megalithic temples are found on the islands of Malta and Gozo, each the result of an individual development. The two temples of Ggantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic Bronze Age structures. On the island of Malta, the temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien are unique architectural masterpieces, given the limited resources available to their builders. The Ta'Hagrat and Skorba complexes show how the tradition of temple-building was handed down in Malta.

Insight I

The Ġgantija temples were listed in 1980, and in 1992, the World Heritage designation was extended to include five additional temples. These sites represent the same Megalithic architectural tradition and period as the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (No.69), known as the Temple phases.

Insight II

The Ġgantija temples were long considered the oldest freestanding structures on Earth until the discovery of Göbekli Tepe, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2018.

Insight III

All temples share similar architectural features: elliptical plans, forecourts, and entrances aligned with the sunrise during the equinoxes. They are believed to have served as ceremonial sites for fertility rites (whereas Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum was primarily a necropolis).