Hagar Qim Temples

The Hagar Qim Temples are found on top of a hill in the southern part of Malta, very close to the sea. They are megalithic temples which have been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Between the years 3600 BC and 3200 BC, the Neolithic civilisations built this incredible stone structure using quite advanced techniques. Due to the excellent conservation of the temple, it's believed that it could have been covered by a stone dome to protect it from the sun and rain.

In addition, inside one of its walls, the largest megalith on the island can be seen, at 5.2 metres (17 ft.) and weighing 57 tonnes. Those who built these temples used spherical stones and ramps to vertically place these huge stones.

Without a doubt, the most attention-drawing part of Hagar Qim Temple is the elliptical hole in one of the megaliths which, during the summer solstice, allows light to shine through it and illuminate a slab directly opposite it. This is a truly unique phenomenon to experience!

What was the temple used for?

The historic Hagar Qim Temple is key to understanding Malta's history from the first settlements on the island. On the inside, the skeletal remains of domestic animals suggest that the temple was perhaps used for animal sacrifices or as a type of shelter for livestock. In addition, the shape of the temple and the presence of the altars suggest that perhaps the temple was used for religious rituals.

During archaeological digs, statuettes of a large woman have also been uncovered, meaning the Hagar Qim temple may have been dedicated to the goddess of fertility. These figures, along with pillars carved with vegetal motifs, are displayed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

Mnajdra Temple

Just 500 metres (1640 ft.) from the Hagar Qim archaeological site is the Mnajdra Temple. Dating back to 3000 BC, it's built from limestone and is found just beside a cliff. In this case, the temple is aligned with the stars in such a way that light enters a small hole in the main hall during the spring and autumn solstice.