MALTA: THE HALTING PLACE OF NATIONS 



Without doubt this 

 had some reference 

 to their religious be- 

 liefs, but the stone on 

 the opposite side is 

 missing. 



It has been sug- 

 gested that the circle 

 represented the sun 

 and the pit-marks the 

 stars, while others 

 suggest a phallic solu- 

 tion. A stone was 

 found carved with 

 t w o phallic pillars 

 standing on a base 

 decorated with pit- 

 marks. When the two 

 designs are consid- 

 ered together, possi- 

 bly a key to their cere- 

 monies and beliefs 

 may be found. 



The corbeling, very 

 noticeable in the right 

 wall of the inner 

 sanctuary, would 

 show that this build* 

 ing was domed over. 



Entering room H, 

 which is very badly 

 damaged, we see a 

 tiny dolmen - shaped 

 altar marked H 1 in 

 the plan. The top of 

 the altar table has a 

 hole in it, fitted with 

 a plug. Through this 

 a memento, such as a 

 small bone for each 

 sacrifice, was possibly placed for tempo- 

 rary custody. 



Returning to position I, we enter a 

 new and earlier temple, in which the 

 decoration is less ornate. We first notice 

 a small side chapel, K 1 in the plan. En- 

 trance is gained through the doorway, 

 which is so low that one is required to 

 bow in passing. 



Immediately opposite is a sacred stone 

 of worship, broader at the top than at 

 the bottom. Its significance is not known, 

 but stones of this design appear in the 

 "Holy of Holies" at other temples. On 

 the left of this stone is a corner seat for 

 the priest, while on the right is the altar 



AN ALTAR IN THE TARXIEN TEMPLE, BENEATH WHICH APPEAR 



THE FAMILIAR PHALLIC SYMBOLS OF THE CONE 



AND THE BALL (SEE TEXT BELOW). 



(see illustration above), with its familiar 

 phallic symbols of the cone and the ball. 



In the passage leading from position 

 K to O, the investigator sees holes in 

 the masonry on each side, indicating that 

 barriers and curtains were hung here. 

 A straight view can be obtained down 

 the aisle leading to the Holy of Holies, 

 where the sacred stone faces the visitor. 

 In the center is a much-burnt stone fire- 

 place full of ash, M in the plan. 



Looking toward the northern end of 

 this oval-shaped building, we see at the 

 far end an entrance, afterward closed 

 by a huge block of stone. 



Near the Sacred Stone is a round stone 



