The Ggantija Temples are found in Xaghra, a town in the small island of Gozo. We have evidence that in the Neolithic times, Gozo was not behind the main island in culture. In fact very important archaeological remains can be found in Gozo, which is Malta's sister island. There are many megalithic ruins but the ones that deserve special attention are the megalithic temple remains at Ggantija. In Maltese, the word "Ggantija" means, "belonging to the giants". This is due to the fact that people used to believe that since the megalithic stones are so big, giants built the temple!

When driving up from the quay in Mgarr towards Victoria, you are able to see this huge monument towering on the high plateau to the east of the village of Xaghra, to the right of the main road. In 1827 these ruins were excavated and then abandoned. This explains how this monument got destroyed over time. Although it is partly destroyed, Ggantija temples are more beautiful than any of the Maltese Megalithic structures. This site is still in private hands but when the Government acquires them, one may hope that the temples will be thoroughly searched and eventually repaired.

The ruins consist of two buildings similar in type, each containing two oval shaped areas connected by a short corridor and ending in a semi-circular apse (room). The two buildings face south east and have seperate entrances. The arrangemt is like that of Imnajdra.

The only difference is that the Ggantija's structure is on a larger scale. At one point, a boundary wall 6m high is still standing, but here and there the original high walls gave way and enclosed the areas of the temple. The southern building is the more extensive of the two. A larger oval shaped slab serves as a threshold, the doorway being formrd of three magnificent slabs, of which only the verticle ones remain.

A paved corridor, about 4m in lenght, opens on to a large elliptical area, 16m long. The northern apse of this area is enclosed by a wall of which some of the remaining blocks are adorned with a well-cut geometrical design. Another slab nearby is decorated in a similar fashion. The floor of the apse is paved with large slabs, but the pillars and slabs which once formed niches and shrines have fallen down.

In one of the apses, one finds libation holes and an oracle hole. A second corridor leads to and elongated area 23m long. The central part of this corridor is paved with large slabs, which are now covered with a wooden platform.

In the angle formed by the eastern wall of the area with the corridor, a stone block (now at the Gozo museum) bears in low relief the figure of a serpent (or fish). The southern apse (C) contains a series of square nitches formed by pillars and slabs, but which are now in ruins.

The northern building, as a whole, is similar to the southern one, but the internal arrangement is somewhat differant and the elliptical areas are smaller.

The common boundary wall of the temples is made of huge hard stone blocks. Between the entrance of the two temples the facade has crumbled. The massive boundery wall itself is one of the most striking part of the building. The stones are used mostly unhewn or very roughly dressed, and some with an area of enormous size and not less than 5 m long. One megalithic slab measures as much as 4 m by 5.5 m.

Unfortunately the potery and other objects buried in the ruins were either destroyed in the course of time or thrown about carelessly when the site was cleared in 1827.

1.Ghar Dalam & Skorba - 2.The arrival of Pre-Historic people in Malta - 3.Neolithic life in Malta - 4.The temple construction 5. The Shape of the Temples - 6. The Location of the major Temples - 7.Ta' Hagrat Temple - 8.Ggantija Temple - 9.Hagar Qim Temple 10. Imnajdra Temple - 11. The Hypogeum - 12. Tarxien Temples - 13. Borg in-Nadur Temple - 14. Other minor Megalithic Temple remains 15. Frequently Asked Questions - 16.Worksheets - 17.The Young Historians - 18.Bibliography - 19.Links