Archaeology Brochure

8/9/2019 Archaeology Brochure

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MaltaThe enigma of prehistory


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Malta forms part of the continent of Europe.

Prehistoric remains found in Ghar Dalam, a huge cave close to

Birzebbuga, prove that during the Ice Age Malta was a land

bridge connecting the European landmass to Africa. Animals,

like elephants, hippopotami and reindeer, migrated South to

escape the drastic drop in temperature. When the climate

improved, the ice melted and the water rose, so that manyanimals perished as the isthmus became a chain of islands.W

O

RTHKNOWING

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Malta

Hagar Qim Temples

Altar at Hagar Qim

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The islaThe isla


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000 years ago, the islandof Malta witnessed the

first traces of man. A thousand

years before Stonehenge,

dozens of mysterious megalithic

temples were built all over the

islands. The huge stone

complexes, which make up

the temples of Ggantija,

Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien

and the underground

Hypogeum at Hal Saflieni,

thrill the imagination. Built

in honour of the

Mother-Goddess of fertility,

using tools made of flint and

obsidian, these giganticstructures are the result of a

superhuman effort made over

several centuries. How were

these blocks of stone,

weighing several tons, moved

and lifted? This is where the

mystery lies. "A faith to move

mountains" is the expression

which comes to mind, an

expression which could

have been invented to

describe these creative and

peace-loving people, who

disappeared mysteriously

about 2000 years BC.

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nd of new beginningsnd of new beginnings

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Originally situated on a landbridge linking Europe andAfrica, the Maltese archipelago

took its present shape after the

global warming which brought

the Ice Age to an end some 7000

years BC. Drawn by the fertility of

the land, the first settlers came

from Sicily with their traditional

farming methods and their stone

crafts, particularly in obsidian and

flint. More than just a tranquil

haven, the Maltese islands must

have seemed to them a place of

magic, dedicated from timeimmemorial to their deity the

Mother-Goddess of fertility.

In 4000 BC, new settlers made

themselves her architects and, in

the process, built carved

megaliths and magnificent

temples.

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Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

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Prayers to the

Mother-Goddess

Prayers to the

Mother-Goddess


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The pendant s, m agni f ic entpottery and finely decoratedobjects discovered among the

debris close to the temples recall

a golden age of peace and

prosperit y. These inva l u a bl e

treasures form part of a

collection, which makes Maltas

archeological museums a key

site of Mediterranean culture.

The famous Venus of Malta, the

sleeping go dd e s s, and t h e

statuettes of fat ladies anticipate

a sculpture tradition, which is

later on echoed in the figurines

found on the Greek I s l a n d s .

The mysterious disappearance of

these highly artistic people in

the second millennium was

followed by waves of new

settlers. Several elements, like

inscriptions and f ra g m e nts of

Mycenaean pott e ry, s u gg e s tthat in the Bronze Age, Malta

was open to a number of new

civi lis ations, particularly those

coming from the Aegean.

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T h e e n i g m a o f p r e h i s t o r y

Mnajdra Temples Mnajdra

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Statuesfrom the pastStatuesfrom the past

We wish to thank our photographers:

Cilia D. : 3-4-5-6-8-9-10-13

MTA : 12

Planchard E. : Cover-1-2-7-11

Reproduction of the photographs inclu-ded in this brochure is strictly forbidden.


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The Christian eraIn the year 60 AD, the galleon on which the Apostle Paul was being

taken to Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial, ran aground on the

shores of Malta. Christianity on the island dates back to his three-

month stay here. Several extremely well-preserved catacombs,oftendecorated with frescoes,recall the beginnings of a religion which by

the fourth century had become the official religion of the Empire.

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D e co r a t i v e s p i r a l s a n d f r i e z e sf o u n d a t T a r x i e n T e m p l e s

National Museum of Archaeology - Valletta

Maritime Museum - Birgu

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MaltaFrom mythology to earlyFrom mythology to early


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Christianity

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The beloved island

Its position in the centre of the

M e d i t e r ranean explains why

Malta was always at the heart

of things in ancient times from

the dawn of seafaring. Known

as Ogyg i a , G o zo was t h emythical island where Calypso

s e d u ced Ul ys s e s . When t h e

Phoenicians (9th century BC)

and the Ca rthaginians (6th

century BC) came to Malta, the

islands provided an ideal base

thanks to their many sheltered

b ays and nat u ral harbours.Po t t e ry and various carve d

objects suggest that Malta had

great prestige at the time.

During the Punic Wa r s, t h e

Maltese islands were invaded

by the Ro m a n s .S everal remains

from this period can be seen at

the Museum of Ro m a n

Antiquities in Rabat. Known as

the Roman Villa, it houses an

a r ray of co l u m n s, co r n i ce s,

fragments of mosaic, ampho-

rae and seve ral statues and

busts, which are among the

b e s t examples of Ro m a n

portraiture.

T h e e n i g m a o f p r e h i s t o r y

St. Pauls Catacombs - Rabat The Venus of Malta

Roman Villa - Early Christianity

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The National Museum ofArchaeology in Valletta:Housed in the Aubergede Proven ce ,t h is

museum brings togethera splendid Neolithic col-lection, as well as a vastarray of objects found inPunic and Roman tombs.

The Museum ofArcheology in Gozo:Lo c ated in the citadelof Victoria, this museumcontains a range ofobjects discovered on theisland.

TheRoman peace

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MALTA TOURIST OFFICE

Unit C, Park House,14 Northfi eldsLondon SW18 1DDTel:(44) 020 7292 4900Fax:(44) 020 7734 [email protected]

Formore in form ation c ontact:

AIR MALTA P.L.C.Head OfficeLUQA - MALTA LQA 05Tel:(356) 21 662211 / 21 690890Fax:(356) 21 [email protected]

www.airmalta.com

AIR MALTA OFFICEMalta House36/38 Piccadilly W1J ODPTel:(44) 0207 292 4949Fax:(44) 0207 734 [email protected]

www.airmalta.com

Christianity

MALTA TOURIST OFFICE65 broadw ay Suite 823New York NY 10006Tel:(1) 212 430 3799

Fax:(1) 425 795 [email protected]


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ENG-03

You cant possibly escape thespell of a land so profoundlyrooted in the origins of mankind.

As the sun sets over the

omnipresent blue of the

Mediterranean, 7000 years of

history become an unforgettable

image. Here, stones have a soul.Standing close to them draws you

into the mystery and makes you

tremble at the hidden faith of the

early inhabitants. Malta is among

those rare places in the world

which provide a change of scene

that can take you back in time so

that, for a while at least, thepresent fades away.

To visit the sites:For special visits,guides who speak yourlanguage can be contacted at theTourist Information Offices in Valletta,St. Julians, Malta International Airportand Mgarr in Gozo.

MnajdraTemples

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Journey

back in time

Journey

back in time

Malta Tourism AuthorityAuberge dItalie,Merchants Street,Valletta CMR 02,MaltaTel:(356) 22 915 000Fax:(356) 22 915 [email protected]

www.visitmalta.com

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Archaeology Brochure