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These are certainly the most beautifully decorated and
the largest temples. These beautiful temples lie in the
village of Tarxien not far from the Hypogeum. These temples
may be considered as the cathedral of megalithic culture
in Europe.
The perfect architectural discipline of especially the middle
temple of Tarxien surpasses in beauty and perfection all
the other megalithic temples of the Maltese islands. Here
one sees an almost geometrical pattern. With their beautiful
spiral motifs and dot motifs, the Tarxien temples are undoubtedly
the most beautifully decorated temples. This monument consists
of four buildings.
The megalithic remains of Tarxien were discovered in 1914
under one meter of earth, by chance by stone masons. The
stone-masons could not dig further and the Museums Department
was called in. Excavations started in 1915 by Sir Temi Zammit
a Maltese archaeologist. At the entrance on the left is
a plan showing the order of the layers as they were excavated.
The layers were found in this order. At the bottom were
found only paving stones. On top was fine grey soil - dating
back to Neolithic man. On top of this was found black ashy
soil belong to the Bronze Age Necropolis.
Then were found stone chippings and on top field soil dating
back from Punic times till the present day. Another interesting
plan to be seen before one actually goes into the temple
is a plan showing the temples in the order they were built.
The middle temple is the only temple in the megalithic culture
in Malta with three pairs of apsides. Interesting about
the Tarxien temples is the fact that they were used as a
temple or place of worship by the Copper Age Man and 1000
years later approximately 2500 BC as a burial place by the
Bronze Age Man.
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