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Mnajdra is a prehistoric megalithic temple complex which lies on the southern coast of Malta and it is approximately 500m from the Ħaġar Qim megalithic structure. Mnajdra was build around the third millennium B.C. and therefore it is one of the oldest free-standing building in the world. It is made of the much harder coralline limestone unlike Ħaġar Qim, which is built of soft globigerina limestone. These two choices probably represents the type of stone found directly at the two building sites. The main structural systems used in the temples are corbeling, done with smaller stones, and post-and-lintel constructions made of large slabs of the limestone.

Design


The cloverleaf plan of Mnajdra appears more regular than that of Hagar Qim, and seems reminiscent of the earlier complex at Ggantija. The prehistoric structure is made up of three temples which are the upper, middle and lower. The three temples are conjoined but not connected. The upper temple is the oldest structure of the Mnajdra complex which dates to the Ggantija phase (3600-3200 BC). It is a three-apsed building, the doorway of which is formed by a hole cut into a large piece of limestone set upright, a type of construction typical of other megalithic doorways in Malta. This temple appears originally to have had a vaulted ceiling, but only the bases of the ceiling now remain on top of the walls. The pillar-stones were decorated with pitmarks drilled in horizontal rows on the inner surface.

The middle temple was built in the late Tarxien phase (3150 – 2500 BC) and, in fact, it is the latest built structure. was build between the other two. It is set on a higher level and formed of slabs topped by horizontal courses.

The lower temple is the most impressive and possibly the best example of typically Maltese megalithic architecture. It was constructed in the early Tarxien phase and built on the lowest elevation of the three, it has a large forecourt containing stone benches, an entrance passage covered by horizontal slabs, one of which has survived, and the remains of a possibly domed roof. The temple is decorated with spiral carvings and indentations, and pierced by windows, some into smaller rooms and one onto an arrangement of stones.

Temples Functions
The lowest temple is astronomically aligned and thus it was probably used as an astronomical observation and/or calendrical site. On the first equinoxes, which occurs on 21th March and the second on 21nd September, sunlight passes through the main doorway and lights up the major axis, and on the solstices sunlight illuminates the edges of megaliths to the left and right of this doorway.

Graham Hancoc described the event as follows: As the sun crests the horizon on the spring and autumn equinoxes, 21 March and 21 September (when night and day are of equal length) its rays exactly bisect the huge Trilithon entrance to Mnajdra's Lower Temple, projecting a spot of light into a small shrine in the deepest recesses of the megalithic complex. On the winter solstice (20/21 December, the shortest day) a very distinctive 'slit-image' - looking something like the illuminated silhouette of a poleaxe or a flag flying on a pole - is projected by the sun's rays on to a large stone slab, estimated to weigh 2.5 tonnes, standing to there rear of the west wall of the Lower Temple's northern apse. On the summer solstice (20/21 June, the longest day), the same distinctive slit-image appears - but now with the 'flag' oriented in the opposite direction - on a second large stone slab, this time weighing 1.6 tonnes standing to the rear of the west wall of the Lower Temple's southern apse.

Although there are no written records to indicate the purpose of these structures, their use has been inferred from ceremonial objects found within them: sacrificial flint knives and rope holes were possibly used to constrain animal sacrifices (since various animal bones were found). These structures were not used as tombs since no human remains were found. The temples contain furniture such as stone benches and tables that give clues to their use. Many artifacts were recovered from within the temples suggesting that these temples were used for religious purposes, perhaps to heal illness and/or to promote fertility.

Excavations and Recognition
The excavations of the Mnajdra temples were performed under the direction of J.G. Vance in 1840, one year after the discovery of Ħagar Qim. In 1871, James Fergusson designed the first plan of the megalithic structure. The plan was quite inaccurate and hence in 1901, Dr. Albert Mayr made the first accurate plan which was based his findings. In 1910, Dr. Thomas Ashby performed further investigations which resulted in the collection of the important archaeological material. Further excavations were performed in December of 1949, in which two small statues, two large bowls, tools and one large spherical stone, which was probably used to move the temple's large stones, were discovered.

In 1992, the Mnajdra complex, together with other four megalithic structures, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trivia
The 1, 2 and 5 cent of maltese euro coins have a representation of the Mnajdra temples on their obverse side.