Prehistoric temples of malta

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PREHISTORIC TEMPLES OF MALTA

They are unique all over the world. They are the oldest standing stone structures which remain to us from ancient times. The temples date from 4000-2500 B.C. They are older than Stonehenge, older than Pyramids. Their architecture is beautiful and inspiring, their scale is impressive yet human .Excellently preserved, they were covered with soil from early times and ignored by the long march of history. They were rediscovered and carefully restored by European and native Maltese archaeologists beginning in XIX century. Because of their uniqueness and beauty, the major temple complexes are deservedly designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Little is known about the people who built these megalithic temples. They were farmers who grew cereals and raised domestic livestock. They worshipped the mother goddess whose type is known from early statuettes found scattered around the Mediterranean. Similar statues are also found on Malta, several being of uniquely large size. The Maltese temples are constructed of stone, in a cloverleaf (trefoil) floor plan. Their typical architectural elements include the incomplete dome and the horizontal arch, or post-and-lintel³ trilithon⁴. The curvatures of the temples perhaps elaborate the circular plan of ordinary dwellings of the time, but are also reminiscent of underground burial chambers. The basic temple plan consists of a variable number of hemispheric chambers, or apses, branching off from a narrow entrance path. Pole-and-hide construction was also used for doors. At major sites, two or more temples would be built next to each other, the whole complex being encircled by a common outer wall. The size of the temples varies, but an apse might measure fifteen or so feet in diameter, with outer temple walls rising well over twice the height of a person. Due to the size and complexity of the temples, and the extensive resources which must have been required to build and maintain them.