2 Euro BU

Ġgantija consists of two temple structures directly adjacent to each other, enclosed by a common outer wall. Their floor plans follow a pattern typical of Maltese temple culture: a central passage leads from a forecourt into several semicircular rooms arranged along the sides. Particularly large, durable limestone blocks were used for the outer walls; easier-to-work limestone was used inside. Some blocks weigh several tonnes.

Only archaeological finds provide information about the communities that built these structures, as they left no written records. They presumably lived from agriculture and animal husbandry. Altars, animal bones, hearths and vessels indicate that communal ceremonies and sacrificial activities took place in the temples. However, the exact nature of the rituals and the deities worshipped cannot be determined with certainty. Human figures found on Malta are often associated with fertility or ancestor worship, but do not permit an unambiguous interpretation.

The name Ġgantija is derived from the Maltese word for “giantess” or “giant”. A local tradition explained the unusually large stone blocks by claiming that the structure had been built by a gigantic being. Such stories arose long before the construction methods and age of the complex could be examined archaeologically.

The complex was uncovered in the 19th century, although the early excavations did not yet meet modern archaeological standards. Later investigations enabled a more precise classification of the individual construction phases. Ġgantija has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980; further Maltese megalithic structures were subsequently incorporated into this World Heritage Site.

The 2016 issue launched a Maltese coin series dedicated to the country’s prehistoric sites. In the following years, further temple complexes and the underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum were depicted. The choice of Ġgantija as the opening subject thus referred to the independent temple culture of the Maltese archipelago.