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The extraordinary prehistoric temples at Mnajdra
have been identified as the oldest freestanding structures
in the world. The megaliths at the site have been
standing for over 5,000 years, but recent events coupled
with natural erosion from the climate have posed a
major threat to the temples' existence. A violent
rainstorm in 1996 caused some portions of the temples
to collapse, as the site is virtually unprotected
from the natural elements. Its position close to the
sea leaves it vulnerable to sea-sprays, resulting
in deposits of marine salts in the limestone megaliths,
which weakens their structural integrity.
But perhaps most disturbing of all is the damage
inflicted to the site by humans. In 1996 vandals broke
through the fence that secures the site and spray-painted
some of the megaliths, permanently defacing the temples'
façades. Then in April 2001 vandals again breached
the security fence and toppled approximately 60 megaliths,
breaking some of them in the process. Tighter security
is needed, not only to protect the site from vandalism
when it is closed, but also to deter overly curious
tourists who are currently free to roam the entire
site - as there are no pathways or barriers - causing
further erosion.
The Mnajdra temple complex is made up of two large,
circular temples and a small, three-lobed structure,
all built on high ground facing the sea. The outer
walls are constructed of blocks of coarse coralline
limestone, while the inside is made up of softer slabs
of globigerina limestone which has been polished,
rubbed smooth and decorated with spiral carvings and
circular drillings. The space between the two walls
has been packed with earth and rubble. All doorways
were constructed as trilithons; two large,
symmetrical stone uprights (or orthostats)
placed parallel to each other to support a horizontal
lintel. These monumental trilithon portals are some
of the most impressive features of the temples. The
middle temple on the site contains four apses
and has been built with incredible skill, the orthostats
which frame the structure fitting together perfectly,
while the stones placed above them have been laid
in a concave fashion, indicating that the temple once
had a domed roof. The adjacent temple is one of the
finest in all of Malta. It follows roughly the same
pattern as the middle temple, with an added porthole
in the left corner of the first apse which leads to
what may have been the priest's quarters.
Evidence of religious practices in the temples includes
altars, oracle holes and rope holes, possibly used for
tying down sacrificial animals. Valuable relics have
also been discovered, such as shell and stone ornaments,
flint tools and decorated earthenware. Several stone
and clay figurines in the form of females with exaggerated
breasts and hips were also found, suggesting the possibility
of a fertility cult or goddess worship. It has also
been theorized that the temples were built to match
the sun's alignment, although little research has been
conducted so far as to the temples' astrological significance.
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