Megaliths in Malta is much older than the Egyptian pyramids, carefully preserved monuments left by the Knights of Malta. In the list of unesco World Heritage sites included three attractions of Malta Archipelago: the megalithic temples, underground church Hahl Saflieni (Hypogeum) and the city of Valletta. Each of the seven megalithic temples found on the islands of Malta and Gozo, was developed independently. Thus, the temples of Ggantija listed in Guinness Book of Records as the oldest freestanding stone buildings on Earth. They confirm that at least 1000 years before the building in Egypt, the famous pyramids of Giza on the Maltese archipelago lived skilled architects. Temple Hahl Saflieni, discovered in 1902 during construction works, it is carved in the rock underground complex, going down to a depth of 10 meters and covering an area of about 500 square meters. m.
It is considered the most ancient underground temple in the world. Three of his Groundwater levels were created in times between 3600 and 2400 years bc. er. It was used as a sanctuary and place of burial here was found about 7000 skeletons, probably belonging to the priestess. But more recent history has left Malta is rich in heritage. The majestic building of the Palace of the Grand Masters in Valletta, was built in the years 1570-1580 by the architect Girolamo Cassar. Prior to Malta in 1798 captured the French led by Napoleon, Order of Malta was very rich and could afford not only to treat and protect Christian pilgrims, but also to build and decorate their houses spared no resources. Staterooms of the palace of the Grand Masters are rich Exhibits – daggers, swords, spears, battle axes, rapiers, halberds, arquebus, pistols, rifles, guns and armor.
Kept in the palace armor and most of La Valletta, where he fought in 1565, but a sword and dagger of Grand Master, given to him by the Spanish King Philip ii, were taken by Napoleon, and they are now in the Louvre. National Museum of Archaeology Malta demonstrates the finds made in the study of Maltese monuments. Here are prehistoric pottery and sculpture, stone tools, jewelry, pieces of funerary equipment of the Roman and Punic periods, and much more, indicating a history of the Maltese archipelago. In Cathedral of St. John, built in 1573-1577 years by the same architect who built the Palace of the Grand Master, kept painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's "Beheading of the head of John the Baptist." Buried in the cathedral most distinguished knights, over their graves a marble headstone. History of Malta continues to ask lots of questions – there is even the proponents of the theory that Malta was part of the legendary Atlantis. Still do not stop arguing about why the Bronze Age have been cut out grooves – a direct consequence on the rocks, which are in different locations in Malta. Was it a road network, or system of channels, or special routes for blocks construction of megalithic structures, or track for ritual carts? Scientists have not yet reached a final conclusion.
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