1432) Skorba Temples, Malta: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" depicting UNESCO World Heritage List featured Megalithic- Temple Complexes in Malta: Fifth Coin in the Series: Date of issue: 24.07.2020:
The Central Bank of Malta is bringing out the fifth Coin in the series of Seven Coins titled "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" in 07/2020, which depicts the Skorba Temple Complex.
All seven Megalithic Temple Sites which will be covered in the coin series are on 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 2,600 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 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 severalother 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/publication 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 it 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 Skorba Temple Complex:
The Skorba Temple structure is one of the oldest in Malta and Gozo and lies on the outskirts of Mgarr in an area called Zebbiegh.
Although the remains are few, the site is one of the most important ever found. Just one kilometre away lie the remains of another important temple - Ta'Hagrat.
Discovered in 1925, Skorba has two Megalithic temple structures, one of which dates back to 3,600 BC, while the earliest remains found here date back to 4,850 BC, making it one of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
The remains on the site are a series of Megalithic uprights (one of them 3.4 metres high), the lowest course of the temple's foundations, paving slabs with libation holes in the entrance passage, and the "torba" (a cement-like material) floor ofa three-apse Temple.
The three-apses shape is typical of the ggantija phase. Unfortunately, the greater part of the first two apses and the whole of the façade have been razed to ground level.
The North wall is in a better state of preservation. Originally, the entrance of the Temple opened on a court, but in later additions during the Tarxien phase, the Temple's doorway was closed off, with altars set in the corners formed by the closure. East of this Temple, a second monument was added in the Tarxien phase, with four apses and a central niche.
An amazing and unique stone sculpture was found at Skorba - a miniature model of a roofed temple, looking something out of a prehistoric souvenir shop.
Within the same site, archaeologists found the remains of ancient dwellings which predate the temple period.
For a period of about twelve centuries before the Temples were built, a village already stood on the site. Its oldest extant structure is the 11.0 metres long straight wall to the West of the Temple's first entrance. Deposits at its base contained material from the first known human habitation of the island - the Ghar Dalam phase - including charcoal, which carbon analysis dated back to 4,850 BC.
These were probably the houses of the temple builders and their families. Studies on these structures have shed light on how these prehistoric people sustained themselves, what food they ate and how they lived their daily lives.
The pottery found on the site is of two styles - the Grey Skorba phase distinguished by grey-coloured pottery with no motifs and the Red Skorba phase, which is exactly like the grey Skorba, but coloured using red ochre.
Another interesting discovery was the globigerina limestone doorway in the West Temple. This is notable since the closest source of globigerina is over one kilometre away and transporting the huge blocks is quite an impressive feat.
Skorba is built with different kinds of stones, some of which are hard and some softer.
The Coin Card:
The Reverse of the 2 Euro Coin is seen here placed in a Coin Card.
The Reverse face of this coin is seen in the centre of the coin card, with an image of the ruins of the Skorba Temple Complex.
The Obverse of the 2 Euro Coin is common to all EU Coin issues.
The Coin Card is titled "SKORBA", "MALTA PREHISTORIC SITES". On the lower periphery at right is mentioned "BANK CENTRALI TA MALTA", "CENTRAL BANK OF MALTA".
The Coins also come in a 25 Euro Coin Roll" depicting the "SKORBA" Pre-Historic Megalithic Temple Complex.
The Skorba Euro Coin Set dated 2020, comes in a Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) version.
The SKORBA 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.
8) 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
9) "Suez Canal": Central Bank of Malta issues a 150th Anniversary Silver commemorative Coin of 10 Euros (1869-2019), minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue date: 18.11.2019
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 Skorba Temple Complex:
Although the remains are few, the site is one of the most important ever found. Just one kilometre away lie the remains of another important temple - Ta'Hagrat.
Discovered in 1925, Skorba has two Megalithic temple structures, one of which dates back to 3,600 BC, while the earliest remains found here date back to 4,850 BC, making it one of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
The remains on the site are a series of Megalithic uprights (one of them 3.4 metres high), the lowest course of the temple's foundations, paving slabs with libation holes in the entrance passage, and the "torba" (a cement-like material) floor ofa three-apse Temple.
The three-apses shape is typical of the ggantija phase. Unfortunately, the greater part of the first two apses and the whole of the façade have been razed to ground level.
The North wall is in a better state of preservation. Originally, the entrance of the Temple opened on a court, but in later additions during the Tarxien phase, the Temple's doorway was closed off, with altars set in the corners formed by the closure. East of this Temple, a second monument was added in the Tarxien phase, with four apses and a central niche.
An amazing and unique stone sculpture was found at Skorba - a miniature model of a roofed temple, looking something out of a prehistoric souvenir shop.
Within the same site, archaeologists found the remains of ancient dwellings which predate the temple period.
For a period of about twelve centuries before the Temples were built, a village already stood on the site. Its oldest extant structure is the 11.0 metres long straight wall to the West of the Temple's first entrance. Deposits at its base contained material from the first known human habitation of the island - the Ghar Dalam phase - including charcoal, which carbon analysis dated back to 4,850 BC.
These were probably the houses of the temple builders and their families. Studies on these structures have shed light on how these prehistoric people sustained themselves, what food they ate and how they lived their daily lives.
The pottery found on the site is of two styles - the Grey Skorba phase distinguished by grey-coloured pottery with no motifs and the Red Skorba phase, which is exactly like the grey Skorba, but coloured using red ochre.
Another interesting discovery was the globigerina limestone doorway in the West Temple. This is notable since the closest source of globigerina is over one kilometre away and transporting the huge blocks is quite an impressive feat.
Skorba is built with different kinds of stones, some of which are hard and some softer.
The Coin Card:
The Reverse face of this coin is seen in the centre of the coin card, with an image of the ruins of the Skorba Temple Complex.
The Obverse of the 2 Euro Coin is common to all EU Coin issues.
The Coin Card is titled "SKORBA", "MALTA PREHISTORIC SITES". On the lower periphery at right is mentioned "BANK CENTRALI TA MALTA", "CENTRAL BANK OF MALTA".
The SKORBA 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.
For posts on Central Bank of Malta issues, please visit the following links:
8) 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
9) "Suez Canal": Central Bank of Malta issues a 150th Anniversary Silver commemorative Coin of 10 Euros (1869-2019), minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue date: 18.11.2019
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Well researched post."
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
Delete