Ggantija

Ggantija (Maltese "Giantess") The Neolithic era (c. 3600–2500 BC) On the Mediterranean island of Gozo Older than the pyramids of Egypt. Malta’s Gigantea one of UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Megalithic Temples of Malta Erected the two Ggantija temples during the Neolithic era, which makes these temples more than 5,500 years old The world's second oldest existing manmade religious structures after Göbekli Tepe Of Turkey The Ggantija temples stand at the edge of the Xaghra plateau, Facing toward the south-east This megalithic monument encompasses two temples and an incomplete third, Of which only the facade was partially built before being abandoned Like Mnajdra South, it faces the equinox sunrise, Built side by side and enclosed within a boundary wall. The southerly one is the larger and older one, Dating back to approximately 3600 BC. Constructed when the wheel had not yet been introduced No metal tools were available to the Maltese Islanders Small, spherical stones have been discovered They were used as ball bearings for the vehicles, Transported the enormous stone blocks The temple faces southeast. The southern temple rises to a height of 6 m (19.69 ft) At the entrance sits a large stone block with a recess, A ritual ablution station for purification The five apses contain various altars Animal bones on the site suggest the space was used for animal sacrifice Locals believe that the Islands’ temples, in particular those of Ggantija, were the work of giants! Its name, Ggantija, is Maltese for “belonging to the giant”, bearing witness to this ancient legend! German artist Charles Frederick de Brocktorff Painted a picture of the site within a year prior to the removal of the debris, A record of the site before clearance Soil and remains were lost without having been properly examined. Livery and The Eye of Osiris Many luzzijiet have the eye of Osiris painted or carved on the bow, a symbol said to have been brought to Malta by the Phoenicians. This seems to suggest that craft of this type must have been common in the harbour since the time of the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. It is hard to imagine a more tranquil and soul-satisfying sight than that of a dead-calm sea on a clear summer’s day when the Mediterranean is magnificent and regally serene, blue and seemingly infinite. The sight of a luzzu out at sea on such a day is truly beautiful! Soil and remains were lost without having been properly examined!