Sunday, March 1, 2015

thumbnail

Ggantija Temples: The oldest megalithic site

By Asad Russel –

About the Ggantija Temples, Xaghra, Malta:
On Gozo two prehistoric temples are the Ggantija Temples, in Malta the second largest island is the Gozo. In the world this site is one of the oldest stone structure site, by hundreds of years the predating Stoneage and the Great Pyramids. In shape is round and of full figured goddesses containing statues, to the Great Earth Mother were dedicated the Ggantija Temples and an oracle probably include. For the ancient inhabitants of Malta a site of pilgrimage was the site.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

The history of the Ggantija Temples:
Estimated to be 5,800 years old the two temples of the Ggantija which were built between the 3,600 and 3,000 BC. In one day and one night were built the temple walls, named Sunsuna by a female giant, while nursing a baby who did it, according to the ancient legend. For “giant’s grotto” Ggantija is Maltese.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

To the Great Earth Mother who was the goddess of fertility were dedicated the Ggantija Temples, according to the archaeologists. Here there was an oracle indicates the evidence, of the goddess by the spirit possessed. For healing to pray to have been a place also seems the Ggantija.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

To the Mother Goddess at Ggantija the temples dedicated in ancient times from across the island drew pilgrims and form Sicily and North Africa even.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

At the Ggantija Temples what to see:
To being the oldest in addition, on Malta the most complete shrine complexes are the Ggantija Temples. A total of 10,000 square feet covers the two temples. By a common wall they are surrounded, to 17 feet which reaches up and a forecourt they share.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

Into place to hoist stones weighing several tons how these ancient peoples were able to imagine it is hard as like the many megalithic sites. About the size of cannon balls on “roller stone” into place may have been rolled the slabs, on the site which have been found.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

By round, curved architecture is characterized the Ggantija Temple complex, a full figured, powerful Mother Goddess reflecting. The body of the Earth Mother suggest themselves the two shines, with full breasts and broad hips. The rooms of ritual are round, and into her Mother’s womb entered symbolically the priestess and returned by reborn it is thought that. With great domes were roofed the Ggantija Temples, on the inside painted in red.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

Connected by a central corridor to the innermost trefoil section which leads of five apses each temple consists. To be built is larger the first temple and with libation holes, relief carvings, altars has niches. None of these features has the second.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

To atten rituals where congregations gathered may have been the large common forecourt, while for the priestess were reserved the inner rooms of the temple.

Ggantija Temples The oldest megalithic site

Round holes carved in them have many of the doorway slabs. Uncertain the purpose of those. In the bigger temple are trilithons the altars, to form a vertical surface that is made of three stones. On these altars of animal sacrifice there is evidence, have been reconstructed most of them. Evidence of the sacred fire is the another interesting feature, by fire of which have been reddened some paving stones, a stone hearth which can be seen in the larger temple on the inner right hand niche floor. In this site there are also found few artifacts, in the national museum which now displayed.     

Subscribe by Email

Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email

No Comments