MALTA: THE HALTING PLACE OF NATIONS 



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THE MAIN ALTAR OF THE TEMPLE AT TARXIEN : MALTA 



The graceful carving awakens admiration for the prehistoric stone-cutters, whose only imple- 

 ments were sharpened flints (see page 474). 



plug. Here, it may be imagined, the sac- 

 rificial ox was brought in and tethered. 

 Armed with a heavy stone axe, the priest 

 felled the animal, completing the sacri- 

 fice with a sharp flint or obsidian knife. 

 A huge basin or laver was used in the 

 ceremony of purification. 



The sacrifice was cut up on a large 

 stone between the laver and the fireplace. 

 This stone has a deep, round hole into 

 which the blood of the sacrifice drained. 

 The portions to become the burnt sacri- 

 fice were there cut off and placed on the 

 sacred hearth. A large stone table on 

 the right contained no drainage hole and 

 doubtless was the place where the burnt 

 offerings and oblations were dedicated to 

 the gods. 



Opposite this table of oblation is a 

 passage leading to a small side chapel, 

 marked M 1 . This contains a small altar, 

 while on the walls are carved in bold re- 

 lief three animals — a bull, a sow, and a 

 second bull facing the first (see illustra- 

 tion on page 478). These carvings are 

 among the earliest known of this type. 



Two large bull's horns were found 



carefully hidden under the entrance to 

 this sanctuary. It appears, therefore, 

 that the worship of the sacred bull, so 

 widely spread and still existing, was car- 

 ried on in Malta just as the Minotaur 

 was worshiped in Crete. 



Two doorways on the ground level, 

 about two feet square, lead from two 

 small rooms M 2 and M 3 , where possibly 

 goats or lambs were kept ready for sac- 

 rifice. 



Returning to room L M, we mount a 

 long horizontal slab just beyond the 

 round hearth. Here we are much struck 

 with a beautifully carved barrier about a 

 yard high. This evidently marked the 

 part of the temple dedicated to the uses 

 of the priests. 



Between the spirals are carved two 

 cones. Mounting over this and again 

 noting the various curtain and door sling- 

 holes in the side walls of the passage, we 

 come to another oval building, P O in 

 the plan. This has similar features to the 

 previous room, but is smaller and en- 

 tirely without carved work except a stone 

 screen on each side, finely decorated. 



