<< Feature Articles >> Mnajdra and Hagar-Qim, a Maltese Treasure
Submitted by LittleEnki on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 Page Views: 7239
Multi-periodCountry: Malta Island: Mainland Type: Ancient TempleInternal Links:
The megalithic site of Hagar-Qim is a unique factor in the area where it resides, due to the fact that it is on an island, and never could really support a huge population. Due to this design, it has led scientists to claim that the temples there were strictly for worship, and ritual, in recognizance of the Mother Earth Figure. The fat lady, as better known, shares a common thread in early societies like Mesopotamia where the Mother Earth figure was made out to be very exagerratingly symbolic in nature. Apparently, the Maltese and Mesopotamian societies had a pretty similar idea of what the Mother Earth figure should look like, and the similarities between the depictions were seen as far north as Northern Europe, and west as the Akkadian region as well.
The design of the temples at Hagar-Qim is also a clear effort in symbolism in several ways.
The shape of the temples lends an air of whimsy in its flower petal layout. Depictions of art in our past peoples’ temple design is always an indicator that the designers were concerned with how the facade appeared to worshippers. Art was of utmost importance to the early Maltese, before writing came about, to tell stories of everyday life in Malta.
The temple and tomb layout in the shape of a flower with petals is also a suggestion of growth, and renewal, through death. From the entrance of the structures, the rooms fan out in a way reminescent of how coral, or some calcium based lifeforms, live, die, and build up in a spreading style. It seems that the ancient Maltese were quite in tune with the ebb and flow of life and death, and it shows in their temple design.
The layout and shape of theses temples can also be likened to that of a human living cell when seen under a microscope. Cells expanding and multiplying into other identical cells is what the overhead photos bring to mind. Is there a deeper meaning to the shapes we see than just artistic flair? Did the maltese builders have an idea what a living, multiplying cell looked like? Or was it just a coincidence?
They also bring to mind the structure of a plant seed, that grows outward and upon it's older layers.
A clear indicator of the understanding of growth and life enjoyed by the Maltese.
These theories are not even breaking the surface, when you realize that the temples were built starting nearly 6000 years ago, by people who hadnt even created a form of writing to save their ideas and past information.
Clearly, the Maltese had the same ideas toward their gods, as many others, when they built their Temples aligned with specific astronomical events. They also believed that their gods would come from the sky in some way, and built the temples on an accessible point. The megalithic nature of the sites leads one to believe that it was built that way in unison with the Sumerian and Egyptian styles, because of the influence of the travellers from these countries. Did the Maltese think of their ancestors as powerful divine beings, as well? Were the temples a way to communicate with those beings after they had left for the stars? Were the Maltese gold mining Africans, that left their country for opportunity abroad?
All interesting theories.
While some of the stonework here is of a common megalithic nature, the stone used is a bit different. In using a softer form of limestone, the erosion that has taken place through the years is more severe than other sites of the same age. Plus, the location of the ruins, where the breeze is constantly blowing across, leaves it open to the elements. Any other resistance of the site to further damage is quashed by the constant spray of salt air, that penetrates, and erodes the stone twice as fast. Luckily a roof structure was built to protect the site from heavy weather, and rain.
It also appears, when addressed from a geographic standpoint, that Malta was a stopping point between Northern Africa and Sicily, and would have bestowed the island with many ideas, principals, and different methods of thinking and planning. The stone balls that the ancient Maltese used to roll the megalithic structures into place are one example of a unique solution to a heavy, and complex problem of moving giant stones. The heck with the wheel, just make it a sphere and the efficiency of the tool increases tenfold.
The cart ruts that crisscross the island are another odd anomaly not seen many other places in the world. Were they just for lining up loads and transporting things from point a-point b? Or were they for some other use, such as a map from the sky or processions of a religious nature?
Not much exploration has taken place in Hagar-Qim in recent years, so maybe soon with the right level if interest in this tiny island society, archaeologists will take more time to find definitive answers to the mystery of the whole group of temples in the area.
It seems that Hagar-Qim and Mnajdra should also be examined more thouroughly for evidence of similarities between it and other societies at the time. Perhaps it can help us to understand some of the mysteries of the surrounding civilizations that helped to influence it.
LittleEnki
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