For me this was to be the highlight of our week-end in Gozo. I have been wanting to visit this site for quite some time now. The last I was here was at least 40 years ago. For this shot, I asked my brother, Joe, who came with me to visit the temples, to stand by the wall to give size to the large bolders.
The Ġgantija Temples (meaning ‘giant temples’ or ‘temples for giants’) are one of several complexes – not the oldest - of megalithic temples which have been found on the Maltese Islands. These temples were erected during the Neolithic Age (c3600-2500 BC) making them at least 5500 years old and much older than the pyramids of Egypt. They have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ġgantija is, in fact, two temples built side by side and enclosed within a boundary wall. The southerly one is the larger and oldest, dating back to approximately 3600 BC. It is also better preserved. From carvings on the walls of Ħaġar Qim temples it is believed that these temples were covered by corbelled stone roofs which must have caved in by time.
It is amazing that the temples were constructed at a time when no metal tools were available, and when the wheel had not yet been introduced.
Thank you very much for looking and for your wonderful comments on yesterday's picture.
Joe did a grand job showing the scale of these buildings. Nice shot and very interesting info. Amazing that so much could be achieved with so few resources.
A beautiful pic. to show us those wonderful walls. Thanks for telling the interesting history.
( I did sail those waterways when I was a sailor, 50 years ago)
I remember standing by a Canaanite wall in Israel from 4000 BC and thinking, "How can something so old be in such good shape?!" Isn't it impressive to see these ancient buildings? Awesome shot Dione!
( I did sail those waterways when I was a sailor, 50 years ago)