Photo. The main
entrance to the Mnajdra Temple group. © Travel Explorations.
It was a new apocalypse to admire the Mnajdra Temple group. The
buildings stands isolated almost on the edge of the cliff top. Mnajdra is made
up of two sizeable temples and is thought to date from around 3400 B.C.
The temple construction shows the great skill of its builders. The third
temple at Mnajdra is considered to be the finest surviving temple in Malta. The
masonry shows intricate knowledge of building techniques and excellent
workmanship.
The spiral carvings and decorated, pitted slabs, give an exceptional aspect
to this remarkable site. The ruins of Mnajdra yielded valuable relics. The lack
of any metal objects here and at other similar temples is evidence of its
Neolithic origin.
Photo. Inside the Mnajdra
Temple group. What strange rituals have been conducted here, and who where
this people?
© Travel Explorations. |
 |
After I have explorered the Mnajdra temples, I walked
around in the area looking for other traces from ancient time. I could see several small stone walls
and pitches. I also walked around a big tower on the edge of
the cliff. This was probably not so old as the temples, and has likely been used
for observing the ocean to warn against enemies. Nearby there is a cave with remains
from ancient animals as the Dwarf Elephant.
In addition to the cart ruts, the most interesting
Maltese sights are the seven Megalithic temples on Malta and Gozo. They are
the oldest stone-built structures in the world, constructed between 3600 and
2500 BC. Two how them are mentioned here. Why have these temples been built
on Malta? It`s not easy to give a complete answer on this. Malta is a
rocky, five-island archipelago set in the irresistibly clear waters of the
Mediterranean. It has attracted people from around the world for thousand of
years.
Malta has a strategic position between Europe and Africa.
So the Maltese islands have been under influence by many cultures,
and have a rich historical legacy dating back to 5000 BC. Perhaps
it`s possible to find out about the buildings origin by study the history
of immigration?
Coming up more!
Stein Morten Lund, 12 May 2006
Additional information
Website for the
organisation Hertitage Malta: www.heritagemalta.org
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