Gozo's temples
Gigantija Temples counted among the oldest in the world, older than the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge, megalithic temples dating back to 3600-3200 BC.
Were they really erected by giants? This is what the legend says, and the name "Ggantija" itself comes from the Maltese word "Ggant", which means "giant".
Looking at the enormous rock blocks (some of the megaliths are more than five meters long and weigh more than fifty tons) from which the walls of the temples were built, we begin to believe that there may be a grain of truth in the legend.
Legends about giants
Maltese legends say that the first settlers on the island were giants. How did they get here? It is said that long ago the children of the giantess living in the forest were kidnapped and put into a boat. The boat was quickly moving away from the shore. The desperate mother threw herself into the water with the intention of saving her children. The children were abandoned on land - in Malta. Only the little ones survived - they settled there, starting a population of giants. There is also a theory that the temples were places of fertility worship.
These legends have both their supporters and opponents. Proponents argue that the archaeological finds from that time are evidence of the existence of truly great people. It is said that a human skeleton was discovered, which was supposed to be almost 2.6 meters high. Unfortunately, the find did not see the light of day. There are stories that an explorer of the skeleton hid it for fear that his construction project might be halted. However, he did confide in a researcher of Maltese prehistory and so the theory about giants is spreading further in Maltese circles ...
Another theory is that the megalithic temples are the work of the Atlanteans
Is Malta really lost Atlantis? We don't know that. We do know, however, that an ancient civilization existed. The question "Who were these people?" However, it still remains unanswered and keeps the researchers awake at night. Undoubtedly, the legend of the giants seems to us the most logical today ... Who else could lift and carry such heavy stones ...?
Another unknown is the sudden disappearance of the inhabitants. Unexpectedly, around 2500 B.C. society ceased to exist. What happened to them? Why / how did they run away / disappeared? Many questions remain unanswered ... The original inhabitants, however, left behind these wonderful, full of puzzles buildings - megalithic temples.
The temple complex consists of two temples entered in 1980 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. To get to them, we go through a small museum in which artifacts excavated in this place have been collected. The remains of animal bones discovered in the area may be evidence that ritual animal sacrifices were made in the temple. The use of fire is evidenced by the presence of stone hearths.
The temples were undeniably the most unique place for the megalithic community. Their houses were made of perishable materials such as grass and leaves, and places of worship were made of stones, which still keep researchers awake at night. The only thing we can learn about these megalithic people today comes from these gigantic stones.
The only certain thing is that megalithic temples will always remain a source of constant questions that will never be answered.