Gozo.gov.mt - Arc Sites/Ġgantija

Ġgantija, ‘the Giant’s Tower’, attributed to a mythical giantess, is actually a temple, erected about 3500BC, and so one of the very first in the world. It has survived quite extraordinarily well, its walls in places still standing to a height of 7 metres. Actually it is two adjacent temples, the southern one, on the left, having had part of its wall removed to allow the northern one to be built up against it.

Their plans follow the principles of all the Maltese Neolithic temples, that is, a forecourt in front of a concave facade, a trilithon doorway consisting of two upright slabs with a massive lintel, leading to a central paved corridor, from which two pairs of semicircular rooms open on either side. A central altar lies at the end of the passage in either a fifth apse or smaller niche. Other altars, either of trilithon form or of solid cubic blocks, stood in the side apses also, some originally decorated with relief spirals. Several of the paving slabs are pierced to allow liquid offerings to pass through to the underworld. The door jambs are also pierced or pitted to hold screens or bars to close off access.

The most impressive blocks are in the rear enclosing wall, huge slabs on edge, alternately face and end out for stability. Internal walls were of coralline limestone rubble, then covered in plaster, though all jambs and altars were of the fine globigerina. These rough walls could never have been sloped in to form a stone vault, so any roof must have been supported on timber beams.

It was emptied - ‘excavated’ would be misleading - in 1827, and although no records were kept, a few of the finds, notably two carved heads and a snake in relief, survive, now in the Gozo Museum of Archaeology. Across the road to the north, a natural cave served to take temple refuse, and in 1947 was found to be stacked with a great quantity of broken pottery of the Tarxien phase.

However, it is the building itself which rightly arouses our awe, in its remarkable state of preservation. Recent calculations have suggested that the south temple would have taken some 15,000 man/days to construct, a major but by no means impossible task. Giants would not have been necessary.

Dr. David Trump

USEFUL INFORMATION

* How to go: Gozo's most famous prehistoric site is clearly signposted. As you approach Xagħra through 8th September Avenue, take the road to the right past the playing field.
Cittadella ticket (Gozo Museum of Archaeology, Old Prison, Natural Science Museum + Folklore Museum) Adults (18-59 yrs) €8.00

Students (12-17 yrs) & senior citizens (60+) €5.00

Children (6-11 yrs) €4.00

______________________________________________________________________ Xaghra ticket (Ggantija Temples + Ta’ Kola Windmill)

Adults (18-59 yrs) €8.00

Students (12-17 yrs) & senior citizens (60+) €6.00

Children (6-11 yrs) €4.00

______________________________________________________________________ Discover Gozo ticket (all six sites)

Adults (18-59 yrs) €12.00

Students (12-17 yrs) & senior citizens (60+) €8.00

Children (6-11 yrs) €6.00

* Visiting Hours: Mon to Sun 9.00am to 5.00pm.
* Visitors are welcome not later than 30 minutes before closing time.
* Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January, Good Friday
* Telephone no 21553194
* Bus no. 64 / 65 (from Victoria Terminus)

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