Ħaġar Qim Temple

Ħaġar Qim Temple

Ħaġar Qim Temple is a megalithic temple structure located on the island of Malta, built approximately between 3600 BC and 3200 BC, making it one of the oldest religious sites in the world. In 1992, UNESCO listed Ħaġar Qim Temple along with four other megalithic religious structures on the island of Malta as a World Heritage Site.

Discovered in 1839, among the megalithic temple ruins in the Maltese archipelago, Ħaġar Qim Temple has a somewhat distinctive style: all the stones used are made of globigerina limestone, arranged neatly in various sizes, with precisely cut surfaces, and many decorative elements on the rock faces, reflecting the artistic standards of the era. Mr. Vere Gordon Childe, who served as the Director of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of London from 1946 to 1957, once wrote: “I have traveled to all the prehistoric sites across the Mediterranean—from Mesopotamia to Egypt, Greece, and Switzerland—but I have never seen a place older than Ħaġar Qim Temple.” It is worth noting that after thousands of years of weathering, today Ħaġar Qim Temple shows some signs of erosion and flaking. In 2009, local authorities implemented corresponding protective measures.

Hargar Qim

Reason to visit: One of the oldest temples in the world

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Malta

Province/State: Malta Island

City: Qrendi