Ä gantija

The Ġgantija temple [ dʒɡɐnti jɐ ː ] (" Giants ' Tower " ) on the island of Gozo in the archipelago of Malta are among the oldest still reasonably obtained, free-standing buildings in the world. They were in 1980 declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 1992 this status was granted five other temples. They thus form the World Heritage Site Megalithic Temples of Malta and have been included in the National Inventory of Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.

History

The about 5800 year old complex consists of two assembled temples, of which the smaller one about 150 years to build later. The plant was given the name because of their size. Ġgantija translates gigantic. It was used to Mnajdra about the same time throughout the Chalkolitikums of the Żebbuġ ( about 3,800 BC ) to the Tarxienphase ( 2500 BC).

Method of construction

Each temple had once Trilithons as input and passage structures on the axis and consists of five maple leaf arranged like apses, with the head of the smaller niche northern temple is formed only rudimentary. The location of the altar can be seen in some of the vestibules Südtempels and in the northern temple nor. The central aisle, and the court were probably paved with slabs, on at least the better-preserved in the substructure older three - apse temple of Kordin III refers ( see picture history of Malta ) and remains in the corridor of the Südtempels Ġgantija.

The outer walls of the plant are in a location still over 6 feet tall. Due to the volume of the partially 50 -ton stone blocks of coral limestone is to assume that the place of worship was originally higher. The temples were covered by Kraggewölben (so it show found models). However, the upper area was completely worn away over time. The radicals mediate but still a very good impression of the former height of the building.

Location

The Ġgantija is located on a 115 m high hill above the village of Xaghra (pronounced Shahra ). It lies at the end of the Xaghra plateau, and is oriented to the southeast. The place is accessible to tourists. Nearby is also the Brochtorff Circle is located. Until the discovery of the 11,000 year old Gobekli Tepe temple on the Eastern Anatolia in the Ġgantija was indeed the oldest temple in the world ( out of worked stones ), but the megalithic monuments in Brittany as Barnenez are centuries older.

Legends

According to legend, a giantess is in a single night, the building erected, while still holding her child in her arms.

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