1039) Ta' Hagrat Temples, Malta: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" depicting UNESCO World Heritage List featured Megalithic-Temple Complexes in Malta : Fourth Coin in the series: Date of issue: 22.07.2019:
The Central Bank of Malta is bringing out the fourth Coin in the series of seven titled " Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" on 22.07.2019, which depicts the Ta Hagrat Temple Complex.
All seven Megalithic Temple sites which will be covered in the coin series are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
About the Megalithic Temples of Malta:
The Megalithic Temples of Malta are several pre-historic Temples, seven of which have been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites List.
Built during three distinct periods (between 3,600 BC to 700 BC) on the Island country of Malta, they are some of the oldest free-standing structures on Planet Earth.
These Megalithic Complexes are the result of local innovations in a process of cultural evolution. During the Ggantija phase (3,600 - 3,000 BC), several temples were built, culminating in the large Tarxien Temple Complex, which was in active use until 2,500 BC. It seems that after this period the Temple building culture in Malta became lost in the obscurity of time.
In 1980, the Ggantija Temples (two sites) were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 1992, five more Temple Sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list - Hagar Qim and Mnajdra (both in Qrendi), Ta' Hagrat Temples (in Mgarr), Skorba Temples (in Zebbiegh) and Tarxien Temples (in Tarxien).
Apart from these Seven, there are several other Megalithic Temple Sites, which have not been included so far in the UNESCO World Heritage List, some of them dating back to the Neolithic Period (5,000 - 4,100 BC) and the last few to the Bronze Age (2,500 - 700 BC).
Adds the UNESCO book titled "Treasures of the World" in my personal library:
"The seven megalithic temples that make up the World Heritage Site in Malta and Gozo are outstanding examples of structures that represent a major development in culture, art and technology. All date from the third millennium BC and each is the result of an individual development, differing from the others in plan, execution and construction techniques.
The two temples of Ggantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic Bronze Age structures. On Malta, the temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien are unique architectural master-pieces, given the limited resources available to their builders. The Ta' Hagrat and Skorba complexes show how the tradition of temple-building was handed down in Malta. Each one is remarkable for diversity of form and decoration. The temples of Malta are the 'oldest free-standing monuments in the world'.
The elaborate rituals to which the temples are testimony are a remarkable manifestation of the human spirit, especially on a remote island at such an early date."
The Ta' Hagrat Temple Complex:
The Ta' Hagrat Temples are located on the Eastern outskirts of the village of Mgarr, Malta and are among the most ancient religious sites on Earth. The larger Ta' Hagrat Temple dates from the Ggantija phase(3,600 - 3,200 BC), while the smaller Temple is dated to the Saflieni phase (3,300 - 3000 BC).
Ta' Hagrat Temples resemble the Ta' Skorba Temples located some one kilometre away.
The excavation of several pieces of pottery deposits evidence that a village stood on the site and predates the Temples themselves as this pottery has been carbon dated to the Mgarr phase (3,800 - 3,600 BC).
Ta' Hagrat is built out of lower coralline limestone - the oldest exposed rock found on the Maltese Islands. The Temple Complex has two adjacent Temples, with the smaller one abutting the larger one on the Northern side.
The two Temples are less regularly planned and smaller in size than several other Neolithic Temples in Malta. Also, unlike other megalithic Temples in Malta, no decorated blocks were found here, although several artifacts, including a scale model of a temple sculpted in globigerina limestone were unearthed here. Interestingly, the scale model is roofed and exhibits the typical structure of a Maltese Temple including a trilithon façade, narrow-broad walling technique and upper layers of horizontal corbelling.
The Major Temple (3,600 -3,200 BC):
This Ggantija phase Temple is typically trefoil, with a concave façade opening onto a spacious semi-circular forecourt.
The façade contains a monumental doorway in the centre and a bench at its base. Three steps lead up to the main entrance and a corridor flanked by upright megaliths of coralline limestone.
The corridor leads into a central torba (a cement-like material) court, radiating three semi-circular chambers. These were partially walled off at some later time. The apses were constructed with roughly-hewn stone walls and have a rock floor.
Corbelling visible on the walls of the apses evidences that the Temple was roofed.
The Minor Temple (3,300 - 3,000 BC):
This Temple rests to the North and is about 6-1/2 metres long. One enters it through the Eastern apse of the larger Temple. Smaller stones have been used in its construction and it exhibits irregularities in its design.
The Commemorative Coin:
i) Coin Card (2019):
The Reverse of the 2 Euro Coin is seen here placed in a Coin Card which comes with the below-mentioned description:
"TA' HAGRAT: The temple complex known as Ta' Hagrat consists of two structures, the largest of which dates to around 3,600 BC. The three steps leading to its monumental doorway are a unique feature of this temple. Ta' Hagrat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site".
The Reverse face of this Coin is seen in the centre of the coin card, with an image of the Doorway with its three steps seen at left in the background.
The Obverse of the 2 Euro Coin is seen on this face of the Coin Card and is common to all EU Coin issues. It is seen here, with an enlarged image of the three steps leading to the main entrance seen at left.
The Coin Card is titled "TA' HAGRAT", "MALTA PREHISTORIC SITES". On the lower periphery at right is mentioned "BANK CENTRALI TA MALTA","CENTRAL BANK OF MALTA".
An image of a 25 Euro "Coin Roll" depicting the "TA' HAGRAT" Pre-Historic megalithic Temple Complex.
ii) "TA' HAGRAT" Euro Coin Set (2019):
The TA' HAGRAT Euro Coin Set dated 2019, comes in a Brilliant Uncirculated version.
The set consists of 8 Maltese Euro Coins, as well as, a 2 Euro Coin depicting the pre-historic Temples of TA' HAGRAT.
The TA' HAGRAT Euro Coins Set were struck at the Monnaie de Paris, France and their mintage is limited to a maximum of 15,000 sets. The Euro Coin Set is presented in an attractive and illustrated blister pack, as seen in the above image.
7) Malta: Renaissance Era Ship design depicting the Order od St. John's "Gran Carracca Sant' Anna" features of the latest Europa Silver Star Programme issue from the Central Bank of Malta: Coin issue date: 15.03.2019
8) Ta' Hagrat Temples, Malta: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" depicting UNESCO World Heritage List featured Mealithic Temple Complexes in Malta: Fourth Coin in the Series: Date of issue: 22.07.2019
About the Megalithic Temples of Malta:
The Megalithic Temples of Malta are several pre-historic Temples, seven of which have been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites List.
Built during three distinct periods (between 3,600 BC to 700 BC) on the Island country of Malta, they are some of the oldest free-standing structures on Planet Earth.
These Megalithic Complexes are the result of local innovations in a process of cultural evolution. During the Ggantija phase (3,600 - 3,000 BC), several temples were built, culminating in the large Tarxien Temple Complex, which was in active use until 2,500 BC. It seems that after this period the Temple building culture in Malta became lost in the obscurity of time.
In 1980, the Ggantija Temples (two sites) were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 1992, five more Temple Sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list - Hagar Qim and Mnajdra (both in Qrendi), Ta' Hagrat Temples (in Mgarr), Skorba Temples (in Zebbiegh) and Tarxien Temples (in Tarxien).
Apart from these Seven, there are several other Megalithic Temple Sites, which have not been included so far in the UNESCO World Heritage List, some of them dating back to the Neolithic Period (5,000 - 4,100 BC) and the last few to the Bronze Age (2,500 - 700 BC).
Adds the UNESCO book titled "Treasures of the World" in my personal library:
"The seven megalithic temples that make up the World Heritage Site in Malta and Gozo are outstanding examples of structures that represent a major development in culture, art and technology. All date from the third millennium BC and each is the result of an individual development, differing from the others in plan, execution and construction techniques.
The two temples of Ggantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic Bronze Age structures. On Malta, the temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien are unique architectural master-pieces, given the limited resources available to their builders. The Ta' Hagrat and Skorba complexes show how the tradition of temple-building was handed down in Malta. Each one is remarkable for diversity of form and decoration. The temples of Malta are the 'oldest free-standing monuments in the world'.
The elaborate rituals to which the temples are testimony are a remarkable manifestation of the human spirit, especially on a remote island at such an early date."
The Ta' Hagrat Temple Complex:
The Ta' Hagrat Temples are located on the Eastern outskirts of the village of Mgarr, Malta and are among the most ancient religious sites on Earth. The larger Ta' Hagrat Temple dates from the Ggantija phase(3,600 - 3,200 BC), while the smaller Temple is dated to the Saflieni phase (3,300 - 3000 BC).
Ta' Hagrat Temples resemble the Ta' Skorba Temples located some one kilometre away.
The excavation of several pieces of pottery deposits evidence that a village stood on the site and predates the Temples themselves as this pottery has been carbon dated to the Mgarr phase (3,800 - 3,600 BC).
Ta' Hagrat is built out of lower coralline limestone - the oldest exposed rock found on the Maltese Islands. The Temple Complex has two adjacent Temples, with the smaller one abutting the larger one on the Northern side.
The two Temples are less regularly planned and smaller in size than several other Neolithic Temples in Malta. Also, unlike other megalithic Temples in Malta, no decorated blocks were found here, although several artifacts, including a scale model of a temple sculpted in globigerina limestone were unearthed here. Interestingly, the scale model is roofed and exhibits the typical structure of a Maltese Temple including a trilithon façade, narrow-broad walling technique and upper layers of horizontal corbelling.
The Major Temple (3,600 -3,200 BC):
This Ggantija phase Temple is typically trefoil, with a concave façade opening onto a spacious semi-circular forecourt.
The façade contains a monumental doorway in the centre and a bench at its base. Three steps lead up to the main entrance and a corridor flanked by upright megaliths of coralline limestone.
The corridor leads into a central torba (a cement-like material) court, radiating three semi-circular chambers. These were partially walled off at some later time. The apses were constructed with roughly-hewn stone walls and have a rock floor.
Corbelling visible on the walls of the apses evidences that the Temple was roofed.
The Minor Temple (3,300 - 3,000 BC):
This Temple rests to the North and is about 6-1/2 metres long. One enters it through the Eastern apse of the larger Temple. Smaller stones have been used in its construction and it exhibits irregularities in its design.
The Commemorative Coin:
i) Coin Card (2019):
"TA' HAGRAT: The temple complex known as Ta' Hagrat consists of two structures, the largest of which dates to around 3,600 BC. The three steps leading to its monumental doorway are a unique feature of this temple. Ta' Hagrat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site".
The Reverse face of this Coin is seen in the centre of the coin card, with an image of the Doorway with its three steps seen at left in the background.
The Coin Card is titled "TA' HAGRAT", "MALTA PREHISTORIC SITES". On the lower periphery at right is mentioned "BANK CENTRALI TA MALTA","CENTRAL BANK OF MALTA".
ii) "TA' HAGRAT" Euro Coin Set (2019):
The set consists of 8 Maltese Euro Coins, as well as, a 2 Euro Coin depicting the pre-historic Temples of TA' HAGRAT.
The TA' HAGRAT Euro Coins Set were struck at the Monnaie de Paris, France and their mintage is limited to a maximum of 15,000 sets. The Euro Coin Set is presented in an attractive and illustrated blister pack, as seen in the above image.
For posts on Central Bank of Malta issues, please visit the following links:
7) Malta: Renaissance Era Ship design depicting the Order od St. John's "Gran Carracca Sant' Anna" features of the latest Europa Silver Star Programme issue from the Central Bank of Malta: Coin issue date: 15.03.2019
8) Ta' Hagrat Temples, Malta: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" depicting UNESCO World Heritage List featured Mealithic Temple Complexes in Malta: Fourth Coin in the Series: Date of issue: 22.07.2019
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