Megalithic Temples of Malta

* This name is listed on the World Heritage List. ª The region is classified by UNESCO.

The Temples of Malta are a group of Neolithic megaliths on the islands of Malta and Gozo. The Ġgantija Temple was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in the year 1980, the rest followed in 1992. The temples were built between 3800 BC and 2500 BC.

The construction of the temple

During the final phase of the Neolithic period, 22 major temples were built on six Gozo and Malta. The Temple period lasted from about 3800 BC to 2500 BC, over 1000 years. The temples were built by a people which reached about 4000 BC between 6000 BC and the archipelago.

The early temples have three, the later fünflappige layouts and consist of up to 20 -ton limestone blocks.

There are no temples have been found that are less than 4500 years. The causes of the sudden disappearance of this culture, the exhaustion of the soil, or droughts are suspected.

From the time of the temple also relics in caves, rock-cut tombs and hypogea come.

Architectural miniatures

Six architectural miniatures are known, most are in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. All miniatures are from the great temples and are to be understood as ritual objects or votive offerings. Although they have realistic features and bring formal principles of temple architecture to express the miniatures are not to be regarded as scale models. Similar models are also available for large Nuraghe of Sardinia Nuraghen.

Periodization

The construction of the temple took place in several phases. These are named after the temples. The dating of these archaeological phases is not yet fully established and is very often based on very old 14C data. This division is also used for the chronological organization of ceramics and sculptures. The following table therefore contains also some phases and after the time of the Temple.

World Heritage

In addition to the Ġgantija temple on Gozo, which received this status in 1980, and since 1992 also include the temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Ta ' Hagrat, Skorba and the Temple of Tarxien with the group.