Tarxien Temples
N 35° 52.141 E 014° 30.676
33S E 455878 N 3969530
Tarxien Temples - These are certainly the most beautifully decorated and the largest temples. It is, in fact, a temple complex. These beautiful temples lie in the village of Tarxien not far from the Hypogeum. These temples may be considered as the cathedral of megalithic culture in Europe. The perfect architectural discipline of especially the middle temple of Tarxien surpasses in beauty and perfection all the other megalithic temples of the Maltese islands.
Waymark Code: WM9ZZ
Location: Malta
Date Posted: 04/06/2006
Views: 62
Here one sees an almost geometrical pattern. With their beautiful spiral motifs and dot motifs, the Tarxien temples are undoubtedly the most beautifully decorated temples. This monument consists of four buildings. The megalithic remains of Tarxien were discovered in 1914 under one meter of earth, by chance by stone masons. The stone-masons could not dig further and the Museums Department was called in. Excavations started in 1915 by Sir Temi Zammit a Maltese archaeologist. At the entrance on the left is a plan showing the order of the layers as they were excavated. The layers were found in this order. At the bottom were found only paving stones. On top was fine grey soil - dating back to Neolithic man. On top of this was found black ashy soil belong to the Bronze Age Necropolis. Then were found stone chippings and on top field soil dating back from Punic times till the present day. Another interesting plan to be seen before one actually goes into the temple is a plan showing the temples in the order they were built. The middle temple is the only temple in the megalithic culture in Malta with three pairs of apsides. Interesting about the Tarxien temples is the fact that they were used as a temple or place of worship by the Copper Age Man and 1000 years later approximately 2500 BC as a burial place by the Bronze Age Man.