The Hypogeum and Tarxien Megalithic Temples (Malta) – UNESCO sites
One reason people visit Malta is to see the megalithic construction there, some of which predates the pyramids. Several sites can be visited on the islands.
The temples are all similar although they have different numbers of apses and are in varying conditions. Throughout the ruins, there are many carved panels with decorative holes or carvings of spirals, animals, and plants. The use of different stones throughout the temples is smart, with harder coralline limestone on the outside and softer easier-to-carve globigerina (love that word) limestone protected on the inside of the temples. In at least one spot you can see the beginning layers of a corbelled roof (and in the Hypogeum you can see a carved corbel-style roof).
Two of the most famous are only a short trip from Valetta and in quite populated areas. One was carved underground and used essentially as a cemetery, the other built above ground.
Hypogeum
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (high po GEE um) began construction around 3600 BC. The word Hypogeum is from the Greek word for “underground”. When the first chambers dug underground were filled, more branching rooms were excavated. In the end, there were 3 levels of chambers thought to contain around 7000 remains. In some cases, the rooms were carved to look like the people’s above-ground temples with doors of two large standing stones capped with another. To view this UNESCO site, you must have a reservation, which may need to be requested several weeks in advance. You are shown a presentation on the site and taken on a brief tour through a few rooms. Pictures are not allowed. In a few places, you can still see the red ocher spirals that once decorated the ceilings of some of the rooms. This site is located in the city as it was only found when they started building homes in the area. The exquisite Sleeping Lady figure that was found here is in the Museum. The “Sleeping Lady” carving that is now in the Museum of Archaelogy in Valetta. was found here.
Tarxien Temples
This underground complex is not far (a 10-minute walk or so) from the Tarxien (Tar she en) temples which are above ground and protected from the elements by a shelter structure. You can walk around and through on marked paths, with an app or by reading the spaced signs that point out highlights. There are many items removed from this site during excavation that are also in the Museum of Archaelogy in Valetta.
The Tarxien Temples remain outdoors, but are protected by a stretched fabric cover, so it’s all in the shade and protected from the elements.
Other sites
Two more Megalithic temples are far outside town by the sea. And 2 more are a little further north and inland. And finally, Ggantja is on the Maltese island of Gozo. For more info on megalithic temples in Malta, click here.
