Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, and the Tarxien Temples

Malta is home to some of the world's oldest free standing structures.  Clocking in at a ripe old age of 3600 B.C., they are older than Stonehenge and even older than the pyramids.  Not much is known about what these megalithic buildings were used for or the people that built them.  We saw three of the more well-known sites but there are plenty more that have been found on the islands of Malta and nearby Gozo. 

Hagar Qim

Model of Hagar Qim inside the visitor's centre. 

One of the circular rooms, note the porthole in one of the rocks which is open to the outdoors which allows light to shine in at a specific point in the room. 

An altar area on the exterior of the temple.  Note the porthole to the right is the same one in the previous picture. 

Mushroom shaped altars flank an interior doorway. 

Mnajdra   

Model of Mnajdra inside the visitor's centre.  The red arrows show what areas of the temple are lit by the sun during solstices or equinoxes.

Interior doorway with "dot" decoration. 

Showing a little perspective on the height of the ruins.

Theses remains show hints of a corbelled roof. 

The Tarxien Temples

Unlike Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, the Tarxien Temples are more inland and have better preserved sculpture and carvings.

Flooring of these temples also had to be cut, fitted, and levelled.

Detailed carving (replica) and door ways. 

A sculpture of a skirted figure. 

Jars and pottery were also found at this site. 

Close up of 5000 year old carvings.