408 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



THE FAMOUS holy of holies in the subterranean structure known as the 



HVPOGEUM OF HAL SAFLIENI : .MALTA 



One of the remarkable features of this great chamber is the entire absence of any mural 

 designs. This is the only room not decorated with paint. A curtain or screen is supposed 

 to have hung before this holy place to conceal it from persons using the steps leading to 

 lower chambers (see text, page 463). 



stones were found in abundance, doubt- 

 less all having some special significance. 



BEAUTIFUL POTTERY, IN EVERY INSTANCE 

 SHATTERED 



Much beautiful pottery was found, 

 practically all broken. This may have 

 been intentional, as typifying the snap- 

 ping of the thread of life. The pottery 

 varied in kind from rough clav vessels to 



finely polished and glazed ware, orna- 

 mented with spirals worked with flints. 

 Some bore bright lines of red ocher of 

 artistic design. 



Perhaps the most interesting piece of 

 pottery found was a black polished plate, 

 on which was drawn with flint the figures 

 of several large horned bulls of mottled 

 color, all instinct with life. The species 

 of animal was identical with that carved 



