Ġgantija, Archaeological site in Xagħra, Malta.
Ġgantija is an archaeological complex on the island of Gozo consisting of two side-by-side temples made from massive limestone blocks. The structures show curved apses arranged around central courtyards and an outer wall that encloses both temples.
The temples were erected around 3600 BC, making them among the oldest freestanding structures in the world. They remained in use until about 2500 BC before being abandoned and later disappearing under soil and vegetation.
The name Ġgantija comes from the Maltese word for giants, as local folklore holds that a giantess named Sansuna built the temples in one night while carrying her child. Goddess-movement tours call the two temples the Mother & Daughter Temple.
The site is mostly paved and accessible for wheelchair users, with ramps and wide pathways between the temples. A visit typically takes about an hour and is more comfortable in early morning or late afternoon when fewer visitors are present.
The outer walls still stand over 6 metres high in places, built from coral limestone blocks, some weighing more than 50 tons. Small spherical stones found on site suggest they served as ball bearings for moving these blocks, at a time when neither the wheel nor metal tools existed.
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