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History comes alive at Red Tower
A soldier in period costume poses near the Red Tower as part of the historical reenactment held for the public. Attention is given to the costumes and accessories to make the event as historically authentic as possible. The Red Tower, or St. Agatha's Tower as it was originally known, was restored by the National Trust and opened to the public for visits and activities.
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Hagar Qim Temples
Hagar Qim Temples are undergoing intensive restoration works which will take place in the next few months. It will be closed to the public during these works but luckily Malta has a high concentration of pre historic temples dotted around the island. Visitors are spoilt for choice at the number of sites available for visiting.
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The end of the event
Historians from the Heritage Department were on site to to lecture about the temples and to answer the many questions the public had. In the background you can see the Islet of Filfla, a protected area of ecological importance.
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Diagram of Mnajdra Temples
Diagram of Mnajdra Temples not only indicating the astronomical alignment with the equinox and solstices but also the shape as seen from the air. The shape resembles the goddess of fertility, stone statues of which have been found in the temples and now on display at the Museum of Archaeology in the Capital Valletta. Diagram courtesy of Heritage Malta.
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Finally the sun's rays shone through
The moment we had been waiting for arrived. The sun came out from behind the clouds and its rays came through the doorway of Mnajdra Temples, astronomically aligned to mark the two Equinox in March and September as well as the Solstices in June and December. The events have become popular with the international press as well as travellers and locals alike.
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Details of megaliths at Mnajdra Temples
Some of the megaliths at Mnajdra Temples have been decoratively pitted. These temples are thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes. Chambers contain stone alters and benches. Artefacts such as stutues and pottery excavated at these sites are on display at the Museum of Archaeology in the Capital Valletta.
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Inside one of the chambers at Mnajdra Temples
While we were waiting for the sun to make its appearance on the occasion of the Spring Equinox, I wandered around some of the lower chambers of Mnajdra Temples. Its magnificent megaliths, over 4000 years old, had withstood the test of time and still stood mysteriosly on the rugged cliffside. Intense restoration is taking place at the moment to combat erosion from modern pollution which would eventually deteriorate the stone structures if not taken care of. Scientific measurements of humidity and temperatures amongst others are being conducted to evaluate the situation.
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And now we wait!
The press and about 50 members of the public who had bought tickets for the Spring Equinox at Mnajdra Temples in Malta gather at the entrance and wait. It had rained the night before so everyone was worried the clouds would cover the spectacle we had all come to witness. In the meantime historical information was given about the site by the historians from the Heritage Department.
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Down the path to Mnajdra Temples at dawn
We made for a ghostly procession down the path that leads from Hagar Qim Temple to Mnajdra Temple which is a short distance away. It was biting cold and damp on this rugged coastline on the South of the Island of Malta. The hooded jackets of the people attending the occasion of the Spring Equinox made the party look mysterious in darkness.
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Hagar Qim Temples as seen at dawn
The megaliths of the temple of Hagar Qim looked ghostly and silent as we walked passed them to take the path that would lead us to Mnajdra Temples a short distance away. Hagar Qim temples were built around 3200-2500 B.C in the Megalithic period.
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Johanna Mifsud has been a member since 1 December 2007 and goes by Robin_2711.
Currently in Malta.
I am Maltese.
