Xagħra (Ix-Xagħra)

Updated: Sep 14

Second oldest standing structures on Earth - Megalithic Temples of Malta 132

What and Why

The Megalithic Temples of Malta (Maltese : It-Tempji Megalitiċi ta' Malta) are several prehistoric temples built during the period 3600 BCE to 700 BCE in various spots in Malta. They were the oldest free-standing structures on Earth until the discovery of Göbekli Tepe of Turkey. Archaeologists believe that these megalithic complexes are the result of local innovations in cultural evolution.

There are more than a dozen of these distributed all over Malta, four of which are the most prominent: Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra (L-Imnajdra) and Tarxien which I visited. Each monument is different in plan and construction technique. There are some commonalities in the sense they are usually approached from an elliptical forecourt in front of a concave façade. The external walls are usually constructed in larger blocks set alternately face out and edge out, tying the wall securely into the rest of the building. The space between the external wall and the walls of the inner chambers is filled with stones and earth, binding the whole structure together.

Toponymy

Xagħra means 'wilderness' in Maltese.

See

As mentioned, the monuments are distributed all over Malta, we shall visit from North to South.

Ġgantija

Meaning 'giantess' and pronounced as /dʒɡanˈtiːja/, Ġgantija is the earliest of all temples, dating back to 3600 BCE and is older than the Egyptian pyramids as blogged in Giza (الجيزة). The massive temple is built on a plateau on Gozo (Għawdex). The temples are elements of a ceremonial site on fertility. According to local folklore, a giantess who ate nothing but broad beans and honey bore a child from a normal man. With the child hanging from her shoulder, she built these temples and used them as places of worship, and hence the name.

Ġgantija is located in Xagħra (Ix-Xagħra). The name of the island Gozo means 'joy' in Castillian.

Interior with the famed niches. Ġgantija layout resembles what is considered once two chubby women side-by side, as plan shown above, again symbolising fertility.

The temples face the equinox sunrise and are built in the typical clover-leaf shape, as the plan above. The construction is remarkable as during this period the wheel had not been invented yet. Transportation of the rocks relied on the use of ball bearings. The main feature of this temple shows a stacked altar inside one of the temples, as in the main picture.

Ħaġar Qim

Meaning 'standing worshipping stones' and pronounced as /ħadʒar ˈʔiːm/, and is as old as Ġgantija. Ħaġar Qim is built by soft globigerina limestone found around Malta and hence this temple suffers from extensive weathering.

Panoramic view.

Inner temple and its plan. The plan looks a bit like a cat's foot with fat paw pads with the elongated oval chambers clumping onto each other.

The temple’s facade is characterised by a trilithic entrance. Features of temple architecture reveal again associations with fertility rituals, together with solar alignments and a megalith which is thought to be phallic. The altar is supposed to be built for animal sacrifice.

The Ħaġar Qim complex consists of a main temple and three additional megalithic structures beside it.

Mnajdra

A few hundred metres away from Ħaġar Qim stands Mnajdra, which is made by harder coralline limestones. This temple is more astronomical in function and the important feature of this temple is the supreme accuracy in the solar alignment: The lowest temple is astronomically aligned and thus was probably used as an astronomical observation. During autumnal equinox sunlight passes through the main doorway and lights up the major axis. During solstices sunlight illuminates the edges of megaliths to the left and right of this doorway. The building itself also appears more regular than Ħaġar Qim.

Solar alignment of these temples.

Tarxien

This temple site, dating back to 3200 BCE, is located in the city of Tarxien around 15 minute bus-ride from Valletta. Of particular interest at the temple site is the rich and intricate stonecrafts which includes depictions of domestic animals and agricultural practices. The name 'Tarxien' is likely to have derived or been corrupted from the word 'tirix' in Old Semitic, meaning 'boulder'.

Eat and Drink

Imqaret

A national pastry is the imqaret which is a rhombus or squared-shaped date-filled pastry, usually sold in street-stalls all over Malta.

Getting There and Around

Tarxien and Ħaġar Qim can be easily reached by bus from Valletta. To reach Ġgantija, one needs to take a bus from Valletta to the ferry pier at Ċirkewwa, then a ferry to Gozo, and from the ferry pier take two buses to arrive at the site, taking a full-day for this visit. The entry ticket for each site is EUR 12€. Due to the distance apart, we recommend spending two or three days on Malta.