Ħaġar Qim

Older than the pyramids

Ħaġar Qim (pronounced "ha-jar eem") is a megalithic temple complex on Malta's southern cliff, overlooking the sea and the islet of Filfla. Dating to approximately 3600-3200 BC, it is over a thousand years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and six hundred years older than Stonehenge. The name means "standing stones" in Maltese.

A limestone colossus

The temple is built from Globigerina limestone, a soft stone that hardens after exposure to air. The largest block in the complex weighs approximately 20 tonnes and measures 6.4 metres in length. The Neolithic builders had neither the wheel nor metal tools. They likely transported the blocks on stone spheres set in grooves, functioning as ball bearings.

Solstice light

On the summer solstice (around 21 June), a beam of sunlight passes through a small hole in the temple's outer wall and falls precisely on one of the inner slabs. This phenomenon indicates the builders possessed advanced astronomical knowledge. A similar astronomical alignment can be observed at the nearby Mnajdra temples.

Practical tip: Visit on 21 June at sunrise to witness the solstice effect (free Heritage Malta event, booking required). Daily entry EUR 10, combinable with Mnajdra (15 minutes' walk). The protective tent over the temple preserves the stones but makes photography tricky.