Megalithic Temples Of Malta

The Megalithic Temples of Malta (Maltese: It-Tempji Megalitiċi ta’ Malta) are several prehistoric temples, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, built during three distinct time periods approximately between 3600 BC and 700 BC on the island of Malta. They have been claimed as the oldest free-standing structures on Earth.

Informazioni sui templi di Ggantija (Gozo, Malta) — Information about the Ggantija Temples (Gozo, Malta)

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Megalithic Temples of Malta (Ġgantija, Gozo)

Altar in der Ggantija Tempel (Gozo, Malta) — Altar in the Ġgantija Temples (Gozo, Malta)

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Megalithischen Tempel von Malta (Ġgantija, Gozo)

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Templos Megalíticos de Malta (Ġgantija, Gozo)

L'Intérieur de temples mégalithiques de Ggantija (Gozo, Malte) — Inside the Ggantija Megalithic Temples (Gozo, Malta)

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Archaeologists believe that these megalithic complexes are the result of local innovations in a process of cultural evolution. This led to the building of several temples of the Ġgantija phase (3600–3000 BC), culminating in the large Tarxien temple complex, which remained in use until 2500 BC. After this date, the temple building culture disappeared.

Tat-Tempji Megalitiċi ta ‘Malta (Ġgantija, Għawdex)

Ggantija templos en Gozo, Malta - La estructura libre más antiguo de pie en el mundo — Ggantija Temples in Gozo, Malta – The Oldest Standing Free-Structure in the World

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Temples Mégalithiques de Malte (Ġgantija, Gozo)

Sivunäköala Ggantija n ulkoseinän (Gozo, Malta) — Side-view of Ġgantija’s exterior wall (Gozo, Malta)

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Megalithische Tempels van Malta (Ġgantija, Gozo)

Ggantija Świątynie i św Jana Chrzciciela (Gozo, Malta) — Ġgantija Temples and Saint John the Baptist Church (Gozo, Malta)

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Templi Megalitici di Malta (Ggantija, Gozo)

Частина До мегалітичних храмів Мальти (Джгантії, Xaghra, Гозо) — Part of The Megalithic Temples of Malta (Ggantija, Xaghra, Gozo)

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The Ġgantija temples stand at the end of the Xagħra plateau, facing towards the south-east. Its presence was known for a very long time, and even before any excavations were carried out a largely correct plan of its layout was drawn by Jean-Pierre Houël in the late eighteenth century. In 1827, the site was cleared of debris – the soil and remains being lost without proper examination. The loss resulting from this clearance was partially compensated by the German artist Brochtorff, who painted the site within a year or two from the removal of the debris. This is the only practical record of the clearance.