Mysterious and creepy temple of death in Malta. Hypogeum underground temple in Malta

November 23rd, 2014

The incredible construction of the Hypogeum, which still causes controversy among experts about its origin, is one of the most mysterious sights of Malta.

According to some estimates by archaeologists, the almost 6000-year-old three-level Maltese temple Hypogeum Hal-Saflieni (Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum, Paola, Malta) is older than the Stonehenge structures in England and themselves Egyptian pyramids in Giza for more than a thousand years. The Hypogeum burial, officially called the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni, is named after the street where it was discovered at the beginning of the last century. Hypogeum means "underground dwelling" in Latin. Many experts claim that the Maltese Hypogeum was built as a temple, a huge underground temple of death and birth with an intricate system of levels, passages, halls and traps. In addition, the skeletons of 30 thousand people of the late Neolithic era and various artifacts were found in the Hypogee. Now historians insist on recognizing it as the eighth wonder of the world.

Let's explore it and we'll take a closer look...

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Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is one of the most extraordinary and unique archaeological sites in the world. The hypogeum was carved by ancient builders from solid limestone in a whole natural rock. The oldest upper level of the rooms of the Hypogeum temple (Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum, Paola, Malta) dates from approximately 3600-3300 BC. BC, and the deepest level of the Hypogeum dates back to about 3150-2500 years. BC, average level 3300-3000 years. BC.

The Hypogeum in Malta covers an area of approximately 500 sq. m., which includes the main egg-shaped mother chamber, a mysterious hall with an “echo” niche, accessible tunnels, stairs, steps, numerous halls and chambers of various shapes and sizes, traditional doorways, grave niches and many other objects.

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Some underground chambers repeat the forms of architecture of land-based temples in Malta, and the nature of the structure of the main mother chamber with curved walls, according to historians, clearly indicates that the fertility cult of Mother Earth once flourished on the island. In addition, during excavations in the Hypogeum, the famous stone statuette of a sleeping obese woman Sleeping Lady was discovered, which is now stored in the National archaeological museum Malta, and also during excavations in the sanctuary, other important artifacts were found, such as various figurines and figurines, amulets and vases. One of the most curious artifacts found is a headless Neolithic figurine, which was found next to two limestone heads, one of the heads may have belonged to this figurine.

Hypogeum Hal Saflieni was accidentally discovered in Malta during construction work in 1902 when mining a rock surface for building a house, and, unfortunately, the builders most of the upper level built by the ancient builders was destroyed during ground work, until it was discovered that the found structure could be an object of historical purpose. To the great joy of archaeologists, the builders did not have time to damage the main entrance doorway, carved by ancient builders in a typical traditional form of two big stones that support the jumper.

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On the walls of the Hypogeum, during excavations in some chambers, geometric patterns in the form of spirals were found, and in the tomb rooms of the Hypogeum, the remains of the bones of approximately 7,000 people and also the bones of animals were found. Most scholars suggest that the Hypogeum may have been used for rituals or religious services and may also have later been used as a burial site. In the niches of the halls of the Hypogeum, traces of the use of ocher for ritual purposes were discovered, and, according to scientists and researchers, the rituals may have been associated with the veneration of the Mother Earth Goddess.

The upper level of the sanctuary is the oldest section of the Hypogeum, and it is quite obvious that the temple builders originally enlarged the natural cave.

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The most important chambers and the most demonstrative examples of stone carving and decoration by the ancient builders of the Hypogeum have been discovered by archaeologists on the second level of the Hypogeum. Near the main chamber, a small cave (cavern) about 2 m deep was found, which was named as "snake pit" or "votive pit". It is possible that this cavern was intended to keep animals that were used here for sacrifices. The famous Neolithic statuette of the Sleeping Lady was found here, in this niche. This figurine is the most beautiful of all the statuettes and figurines found in the ancient temples of Malta. A very plump woman, perhaps she is dreaming about something, or perhaps she symbolizes death, or this is a priestess in a trance - there are different opinions about this.

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The floor in one room at the deepest level of the sanctuary ends in steps. Researchers believe that the chambers deep level were used for storage, since no remains of human bones were found during excavations. This level was built in the time period when the temple-building civilization mysteriously disappeared on the island.

The Chamber of the Holy of Holies is the most impressive room in the Hypogeum and is famous for its superbly carved, monumental hall façade with a traditional rock-cut doorway. This door entry repeats the entrances to the dolmens of ground temples found on the surface of the earth in several places in Malta.

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A few words should be said about the Oracle Room, which is located on the second level of the Khal Saflieni Hypogeum. The room has a small oval niche located at the level of the face. If something is said into this niche in a low male voice, the sounds resonate with a strong echo throughout the entire room of the Hypogeum complex. In the same chamber, a niche with traces of red ocher was found, and the ceiling of this extraordinary chamber is decorated with spirals, also applied with red ocher, and, according to scientists and researchers, ocher drawings symbolize the Tree of Life (Tree of Life). Maltese archaeologist Temi Zammit (Sir Temi Zammit, also a well-known Maltese historian, professor, rector of the University of Malta, writer, first director National Museum archeology of Malta, Valletta at the beginning of the 20th century), believed that the location of the Oracle was once determined in Malta. The oracle, in turn, attracted pilgrims to Malta from all over. Mediterranean region. In addition, archaeologists and historians believe that the ancient architects in Malta, who built in Malta and Gozo megalithic temples, dolmens, burial grounds and other ancient objects intended for religious services, rituals, ceremonies or for some other purposes, mathematical calculations were used during construction.

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Near the floor of the last hall of the underground Hypogeum, on the third and last of the officially recognized sublevels, is a number of so-called "burial chambers". They are very small, and to look inside, you have to kneel. However, you can crawl through them. It is known that one of these chambers is not deaf, like the others, but continues further in the form of an endless tunnel and is lost in the deep and unexplored cavities of the rocky rock of the island. This must be the same place that was written about in the August issue of National Geographic magazine for 1940: some daredevils who managed to squeeze into the camera disappeared into the depths of the passage without a trace and forever.

Many underground passages and tunnels, including prehistoric catacombs, were later included by knight builders in the system of fortifications. In some passages and caves they kept food, in others they took refuge during the battle. Right under Valletta, a whole huge underground city, in which the poor lived, who did not have their own houses on the surface. Underground cave houses and temples of prehistoric people are scattered all over the island. A few decades ago, anyone could walk Malta from end to end through underground passages without ever rising to the surface. Perhaps this state of affairs would have continued to this day, but the government ordered to block all known entrances to the dungeon after an accident around the first third of the last century, when a group of schoolchildren (about 30 people in total) led by several adults were lost in the underground labyrinth . The children and their teachers decided to arrange educational excursion through the tunnels, but disappeared without a trace, and they were never found.

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An eyewitness to these events was the well-known researcher Louise Jezzap, who at that time worked at the British Embassy in Malta, and later became the scientific secretary of an American scientific society. She wrote an article about her two visits to the Hypogeum, one of which took place before the missing schoolchildren, and the other shortly after. Miss Jezzap, during her first visit to the Hypogeum, began to persuade the guide to explore that same mysterious burial chamber, which was located at the end of the official route. The guide at first objected, but then gave up and warned the young lady that she could climb there solely at her own peril and risk. Miss Jezzap took the candle and used her long scarf as a rope for her friends behind her to hold on to. She squeezed through the cell and suddenly found herself in a huge empty hall. Raising the candle, she found that she was standing on a small ledge, and a narrow, but deep, seemingly bottomless, underground gorge went down.

On the opposite side of the gorge, a little lower, was a ledge similar to the one on which Miss Jezzap stood, and from it a tunnel began into the depths of the rock. Miss Jezzap and the people who were with her saw it with their own eyes and confirmed it in writing and under oath. In addition, on opposite side down the gorge they saw several hairy human-like creatures trying to blow out the candle of the aliens and finally throwing something soft and wet at them. The people in a panic pushed through the hole back to the Hypogeum, where they were met by a guide. Noticing the state of Miss Jezzap and her friends, the guide was not at all surprised and made it clear that he knew perfectly well what (and whom) they could see there.

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A week after this event, schoolchildren disappeared in the labyrinth. And when Miss Jezzap came to the Hypogeum for the second tour, the former guide was no longer there, and the current one denied that he had ever worked here. However, it became known in the press that the schoolchildren, their teachers and the previous guide climbed into the very tunnel, on the threshold of which Miss Jezzap saw strange creatures. Coincidentally (or not), this tunnel collapsed almost immediately. Several search parties were sent, the collapse was dug up, but the remains of the bodies of children or their traces were not found. The rope, which the excursion pulled along from the burial chamber itself, turned out to be neatly cut off by something sharp. All traces are lost.

Then they said that children's crying and screaming were heard by people, as it were, from underground in various parts of the island, but no one could determine exactly the place where these sounds came from.

As for the network of catacombs near Malta, some ancient sources indicate that it branched not only under the surface of the island: the passages went inland and to the sides, continued under the sea and, according to rumors, stretched all the way to Italy. At least in antiquity, ancient times, many sources pointed to this.

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second name, Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni, comes from the name of the street where it is place of worship was discovered in 1902 by chance, during the sewerage. discovered Hypogeum the builders tried to hide the find for some time and used the artificial cave as a construction waste dump, but the Jesuit father became interested in it Emmanuel (Father Manuel Magri) who was the first to start excavations. After the death of his father Emmanuel in 1907, a Maltese archaeologist led the study of the Maltese megaliths Temi Zammit (Sir Temi Zammit). He suggested that there once was an oracle that attracted pilgrims to Malta from all over the Mediterranean. One of the most famous mysteries Hypogea- the so-called chamber of the Oracle, with unique acoustics, causing a "many-voiced" echo. But the paradox is that the echo echoes only male voices... The walls of the chamber are painted with ocher spirals. At the top level - Big hall, central passage and burial chambers on each side. The hall is rounded, several passages lead from it, some of them end “blindly”. Here the figures of sleeping women were found - now they are in museum of archeology V Valletta. Near the floor of the last hall of the underground Hypogea, on the third and last of the officially recognized sub-levels, are the "burial chambers". To look inside, you have to kneel.

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One of these chambers is not closed, but continues in the form of a tunnel somewhere into unknown depths. National Geographic magazine in 1940 wrote: "Some daredevils who managed to squeeze into the chamber disappeared into the depths of the passage without a trace and forever." On the second level, there is a two-meter well, in which they seem to have bred snakes or something ... On the third level, groundwater can be observed, some of its rooms are believed to have been used as warehouses. The lowest room is also interesting, the steps leading to it break off at a height of several meters above the floor level. It is located at a depth of 10.6 meters. Numerous scattered bone remains of people and sacrificial animals were found inside the cone- or egg-shaped rooms. It is assumed that a communal burial ground functioned in the hypogee for many centuries. ancient inhabitants Malta they carved new corridors and grottoes in the rock, in which they buried their dead. Geometric patterns were discovered on the walls, as well as traces of the use of ocher for ritual purposes. Hypogeum Khal Saflieni served not only as a place of worship and burial, it served primarily for the training of priestesses who professed the cult of the Great Mother. Maria Gimbutas tied up Hal Saflieni with his doctrine of matriarchal Old Europe.

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As confirmation that the Hal Saflieni the cult of female fertility flourished, it indicates that the temple halls are in the form of a mother's womb, and a Neolithic statuette of a sleeping obese woman was discovered inside the hypogeum, continuing the tradition of Paleolithic Venuses. This structure was carved out of the rock for several centuries. The construction dates back to 3600 BC (other dates are given between 4500 and 5000 BC). More precisely, the upper "floor" (3600-3300 BC), the middle (3300-3000 BC) and the lower (3150-2500 BC). In 1992-1996, the hypogeum was under restoration and was closed to the public. Hypogeum open for visits daily. One group is allowed per hour, no more than 10 people, only 80 people can visit the temple per day. Entry of groups is strictly at 9, 10, 11 and 13, 14, 15, 16.00. There are seven tours per day. You need to sign up in advance, and only from the site on the Internet (2 euros will also be charged for this service), tourist season two weeks in advance, and in a non-tourist one - at least a week in advance, and then redeem tickets in a few days.

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The tour starts from overview a small exhibition found during excavations Hypogea exhibits. The following video is shown on English language. And only after that, accompanied by a guide, you can go down directly to Hypogeum. Photo and video filming is strictly prohibited. Before entering, visitors leave all bags and photo and video cameras in the storage room. Ticket price in Hypogeum- 20 Euro for an adult, 15 Euro for children from 12 to 17 years old and pensioners over 60, 10 Euro for children from 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 years old and under will not be allowed in! However, it is not necessary to book tickets in advance (although this reduces the chances of getting into the Hypogeum). There are two " special excursions» - at 12:00 pm and at 16:00 pm, tickets for them are sold at Museum of Fine Arts V Valletta and at the Museum of Archaeology Gozo, V Victoria. They are sold without an order - in a first-come, first-served, slippers! The price is €25. Hypogeum: reachable by bus routes 15, 29, 30 (from Valletta). Near Hypogeum another one is located megalithic complex - Tarshi Temples .

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The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy is made -

Scientists around the world are finding mysterious caves and catacombs, which belong to the cultures of disappeared civilizations and are a valuable source of information about the history of the Ancient World. But some finds of archaeologists shock even the most experienced researchers. One such discovery is the Maltese Hypogeum.

The name of the ancient monument in translation means the Temple of Death, it was attributed to the catacombs in the city of Paolo for a reason. This underground structure was accidentally discovered back in 1902, when workers were repairing the plumbing in the city center and fell into one of the halls of the temple. The workers did not know that in this way they found a valuable historical monument and sacred place of ancient people.

The passage to the tunnel was covered with construction debris, saving the funds allocated for disposal. Hypogeum would have sunk into oblivion if not for the events that followed after this incident. On the eve of World War II, people began to disappear in the town. Moreover, eyewitnesses who happy accident managed to avoid such a fate, they claimed that some unknown force lures people into the catacombs under the city.

After the appearance of such articles in newspapers and scientific journals, several specialists came to the island to study the mysterious tunnels under the city. The researchers discovered a giant labyrinth with many halls, tunnels and passages. But the most shocking thing was that the location of the halls in the labyrinths coincided with the ground ancient Maltese temples. They were practically their mirror image or, as it were, a copy turned down.

Who built the ancient temple?

Approximately the Maltese Hypogeum was erected about 8,000 years ago. It is not known what technologies ancient people used when constructing similar structures in granite rock, scientists put forward many theories on this matter. And lovers of mysticism are sure that the Hypogeum was erected not by people, but by a more developed race that preceded them. It is, of course, impossible to know for sure.

There is evidence that the catacombs were built together with the famous Maltese temples. Each of the sanctuaries was divided into inner and outer zones. The outer zone was intended for ordinary parishioners. And the inner one was only for, commoners could not enter it.

In the inner chambers, the priests made sacrifices to the gods worshiped by the people of Malta. It was the inner zones that were the main halls of the Hypogeum. Subsequently, they were connected by many tunnels and passages. Only the “initiates” knew the passage through the catacombs, and ordinary residents, who were overcome by curiosity, could not find a way out and were forever lost in an endless maze.

Ghosts of the ancient Hypogeum

In the underground temple were repeatedly recorded. Visitors to the catacombs heard mysterious sounds of inexplicable origin. Some even saw the figures of people with torches, dressed in strange, like ritual clothes.

Later, scientists decided to find out the reason mysterious phenomena taking place in the temple. To do this, instruments for measuring the resonant frequency were installed in the halls of the labyrinth. It turned out that the frequency of the measured sound is 110 hertz. Several volunteers were then exposed to such sound waves.

It turned out that the volunteers had a change in brain activity, characteristic of. The subjects developed serious speech disorders, the right lobe of the brain became more active. According to one version, the ancient priests built their temple in such a way that infrasound was formed in it, capable of putting a person into a state of hypnosis. This was necessary so that the uninitiated could not penetrate the secrets of the labyrinth.

Excavations continue

In the spring of 1949, archaeologists penetrated twelve meters deep into the dungeon. They found that the maze had three levels. Having passed to the very last - third - "floor", the researchers stumbled upon several cameras at once. When they hit them, all the people were terrified.

They were lying in huge chambers in various poses. Moreover, the age of the remains varied. It seemed that the dungeon had been collecting them for centuries. Archaeologists did not dare to go further. But one adventurer nevertheless dared to seize the opportunity and penetrate further - into another chamber.

The entrance to the casemate was very narrow, so the archaeologist had to crawl along it for a long time. For safety, a rope was attached to the woman's belt. When the researcher got into the long-awaited hall, she turned on the lantern. What she saw plunged her into indescribable horror.

According to the archaeologist, several creatures appeared to her eyes, vaguely resembling a person, but larger. They tried to knock the lantern out of her hands. In a panic, the archaeologist rushed back to the other researchers. By luck or on purpose, after the girl got out of this hall, the entrance to it fell asleep. The rope was cut with something sharp. Such a story seems implausible, but locals still remember this terrible incident and do not dare to enter the catacombs.

In many parts of the world, scientists periodically discover mysterious catacombs and caves belonging to the cultures of civilizations that have sunk into oblivion and are important sources of information about ancient world. However, sometimes finds are made that perplex the most experienced archaeologists. One of these discoveries was Hal Saflieni, a hypogeum (megalithic underground sanctuary) in the city of Paola, Republic of Malta. (website)

Maltese underground temple

The name of this ancient monument is translated as "Temple of Death", and scientists gave his hypogeum is by no means just that. An underground structure was found here quite by accident in 1902, when local workers were repairing a water pipe in the center of Paola and suddenly fell into one of the halls of the sanctuary. The Maltese did not even suspect that they had discovered in this way the most valuable historical monument, which was once sacred place for their ancestors.

The workers did not inform anyone about their find and simply poured construction waste into the tunnel, thus saving on its disposal. Khal-Saflieni would have remained a mystery to the whole world if the supernatural forces that had awakened in the hypogee had not begun to demand victims. On the eve of World War II, people suddenly began to disappear in the city. The police at first assumed that the fault was a predator or Serial killer, however, these conjectures were not confirmed. But soon there were eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen how some unknown force intoxicates people and lures them into the catacombs under Paola.

When information about this mysticism appeared in the newspapers, researchers visited Malta, who wished to study the mysterious tunnels under the city. Scientists were amazed when they discovered a colossal underground labyrinth with countless passages, tunnels and halls. Surprisingly, the location of all the objects in the labyrinth perfectly matched the ancient Maltese temples on the surface. The dungeon, one might say, was a mirror image of all terrestrial religious buildings built on the island in antiquity.

Experts were shocked when they advanced into the labyrinth and found in its depths the remains of the townspeople who had disappeared before. There were also many children among them. All the unfortunates died of dehydration. What made them come down here and get lost in the endless underground passages is a real mystery. After such a terrible discovery local authorities decided to carefully guard the entrance to the temple, so that no one else ends his life here.

Who built the ancient hypogeum?

Scientists suggest that Khal-Saflieni was built about eight millennia ago. People of science still cannot determine what technologies were used then to build this breathtakingly large and complex underground complex. Supporters of alternative theories believe that the authors of the sanctuary are representatives of a developed ancient civilization or even aliens.

It is hypothesized that these catacombs were built simultaneously with the ancient Maltese temples on the surface. Each sanctuary in the underground labyrinth was divided into outer and inner zones. The commoners had the right to visit only the outer areas, which were easy to get into and just as easy to leave. The inner zones were intended exclusively for the clergy, and only the priests who made sacrifices to the gods could be here. Only priests knew the passage through the forbidden parts of the catacombs, and ordinary parishioners, who were possessed by criminal curiosity, disappeared forever in the tunnels, unable to find a way back.

Abnormal sounds of Hal-Saflieni

Paranormal phenomena have been repeatedly recorded in the catacombs under Paola. Many visitors to the labyrinth heard inexplicable sounds and even noticed in the darkness of the tunnels human figures with torches, dressed in ritual clothes. Scientists decided to find an explanation for such a devilry, and it seems that they even achieved success in this. When equipment was installed underground to measure the resonant frequency, it turned out that a sound with a frequency of 110 hertz was constantly heard there.

Scientists imitated this sound in the laboratory and exposed it to several volunteers. It turned out that such sound waves affect a person much more strongly than ultrasound. Every one of the subjects soon developed a temporary thought disorder. They seemed to fall into a stupor and could not even really communicate with the researchers. In addition, the test subjects began to have severe hallucinations.

Experts came to the conclusion that the ancient sanctuary was built in such a way that continuous drafts formed this sound in it. He introduced people into a state of a kind of hypnosis, and curious uninitiated, who had gone too far, no longer had the opportunity to leave the labyrinth. At the same time, the priests could use some kind of earplugs (or some other devices) in order to protect themselves from the paralyzing and hallucinatory sound.

Monsters in the dungeon

In March 1949, a group of archaeologists, who decided to explore a small part of the labyrinth, entered the dungeon and, tied with ropes, went almost a hundred meters deep. So far no one has climbed into the hypogeum, either before or since. Scientists have found that the labyrinth consists of three floors. When our heroes got to the third lower floor, a truly shocking picture appeared before them, plunging the people of science into indescribable horror.

Tens of thousands of human skeletons lay in huge chambers carved into the limestone. Experts determined that the remains had a different age, as if someone had been collecting them in the dungeon for centuries. Of course, after such a find, it was madness to go any further. However, one researcher still decided to walk a little further to see what was in the adjacent chamber. The entrance to this casemate was incredibly narrow, and the woman had to crawl along it for a relatively long time. To secure it, they tied it with an additional rope. Penetrating into the cell, the expert turned on the flashlight and saw who was collecting corpses here.

From that side, several anthropomorphic tall creatures with gray skin, huge toothy mouths and predatory burning eyes, vaguely resembling humanoids, looked at the woman. Disturbed by the light of the lantern, the creatures squinted, scurried around and tried to get close to the man. Scaring away the monsters with light, the archaeologist leaned back and miraculously got out to her colleagues. By a lucky chance, or perhaps by the intention of the monsters, the entrance to their hall fell asleep immediately, as soon as the adventurer was near her comrades.

Desperate researchers (especially of everything paranormal) tried to penetrate into the Temple of Death later, but they failed to unravel its secret, and the locals are terrified of these mystical catacombs and never go down into them so as not to anger the "sleepers" ...

Researchers have long known that the island of Malta is riddled with underground structures and tunnels. Some of them even reach Italy, and who knows how many secrets these labyrinths hide...

Hypogeum of Malta: Temple of Death

Historic landfill

The small island town of Paola was founded in 1626 by the Knights of Malta. It received its name in honor of the Grand Grand Master of the Order Antoine de Paule. The city was no different from the same settlements, but at the very end of the 19th century it began to develop rapidly thanks to the shipyards being built in the neighboring bay. The workers needed housing, which led to a building boom. It was then, in 1902, when laying sewers to houses under construction, workers stumbled upon a void underground. There was no person among the company's employees who was able to evaluate the find from a historical and archaeological point of view, and they began to use it for construction debris, which, of course, reduced the cost of construction. The rumor about this spread throughout the city, and after some time, a local Jesuit priest, Father Emmanuel, arrived at the construction site. He won a ban on the use of the dungeon as a dump and received the right to explore it.
Already the first excavations have shown that the dungeon is man-made structure and, moreover, cult: numerous bone remains of people were found here, geometric patterns made in ocher were found on the walls. After the death of his father Emmanuel in 1907, his work was continued by the Maltese professor, historian, archaeologist, rector of the University of Malta Temi Zammit. Based on the data obtained, he suggested that the underground structure was the temple of the Maltese oracle and a place of pilgrimage for thousands of people from all over the Mediterranean.

Ancient does not exist

Those old times the inhabitants of Malta have been biting into the stone for centuries, cutting through more and more new fotos for the burial of the dead. It was also determined by Father Emmanuel that the temple was not Christian, since during the excavations bones of animals used in ritual sacrifices were found.
The sanctuary (hypogeum) has three levels. The upper one - the oldest one - was built 5500 years ago, the two lower ones were cut into the rock 300-500 years later, that is, it is more than 1000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids! Moreover, the remains of pottery found during excavations indicate that these places were inhabited as early as 7,000 years ago. One way or another, but Khal-Saflieni, which got its name from the name of the street on which it is located, is one of the largest burial sanctuaries. In tourist guides, this temple of death is usually referred to as Hypojium.

Mother Temple?

In total, 34 rooms are known to archaeologists. with total area 480 sq. m. Only in the spring of 1949 did they manage to penetrate the lowest level. What they saw shocked them: in specially carved niches were the remains of 7 to 30,000 ancient Maltese! It is noteworthy that almost everyone was lying on their side - in the same position as the stone "Sleeping Foremother" found here. This statuette depicting a fat woman is considered the most beautiful of all found in the ancient temples of Malta. Some scientists claim that she depicts a dreamer, others that she symbolizes death, others insist that a priestess in a trance is depicted in the stone. Archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, author of the doctrine of the matriarchal Old Europe, believes that a cult of female fertility flourished in Hal-Saflieni. This is precisely what the forms of the main temple halls, reminiscent of the mother's womb, indicate.

oracle chamber

One of the most interesting and mysterious rooms is the oracle chamber at the middle level of the hypogeum. Here, at the height of a human face, a small oval niche has been carved. If you say something into it even in a normal voice, the sounds are carried by a strong echo throughout the rooms. Surprisingly, this only applies to male voices. Women's or children's will not be heard even by those who are standing nearby. This phenomenon attracted attention, and Italian scientists, together with the Maltese composer Ruben Zara, conducted a series of experiments. The results showed that the sound resonates at a frequency of 110 Hz (the timbre of a male voice). But then it turns out that only men could perform religious rites, which is somewhat at odds with the matriarchal theory.
This sound frequency has a strong effect on the human psyche, affecting the area of the brain responsible for mood, empathy and social behavior. In addition, vibrations are felt by all bones and tissues of a person, which brings him into a state of altered consciousness, enhances mystical sensations during religious rituals.

death move

All the premises of the temple are interconnected by narrow corridors and tunnels. In that complex maze It is very easy to get lost and even lost. And this is not an exaggeration. In the lower hall, one of the burial niches turned out to be with a narrow hole leading into the unknown. National Geographic magazine wrote back in 1940: "Some daredevils who managed to squeeze into the camera disappeared into the depths of the passage without a trace and forever."
The well-known researcher, an employee of the British Embassy in Malta, Louise Jezzap, who later became the scientific secretary of the American Scientific Society, during her first visit to the hypogeum managed to persuade the guide and, on her own responsibility, made an attempt to penetrate this through burial chamber. With a candle and a long scarf as a rope, she squeezed through a narrow hole. Her friends followed her. They had to crawl some distance before they came to the edge of a small ledge that overlooked a narrow, but dark, bottomless gorge. On the opposite side there was a similar ledge, behind which a tunnel was visible. At the tunnel, they saw several hairy creatures, similar to people, who first tried to blow out the candle, and then began to throw something soft and wet. The explorers crawled back in horror. The guide was not surprised at all, listening to the confused story. He seemed to know very well who they might see there. So it was or otherwise, it is difficult to say - fear has big eyes, but subsequently both Miss Jezzap and the people who were with her confirmed what they saw in writing and under oath.
Soon Hal-Saflieni was shaken by a terrible tragedy: a group of schoolchildren and adults - about 30 people in all - decided to follow the path of Miss Jezzap. No one came back: both children and adults disappeared without a trace in underground tunnels. The search expeditions did not give any result - neither people nor their remains could be found, and the rope that the schoolchildren pulled along was cut. The inhabitants of the island said that strange sounds and screams were heard from somewhere under the ground for a long time, but exact location failed to install. Almost immediately after the incident, the manhole crumbled - the temple of death carefully keeps its secrets ...

Malta: Temple Hypogeum Hal-Saflieni (Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum)

The incredible construction of the Hypogeum, which still causes controversy among specialists about its origin, is one of the most mysterious sights of Malta.

According to some estimates by archaeologists, the almost 6000-year-old three-level Maltese temple Hypogeum Hal-Saflieni (Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum, Paola, Malta) is more than a thousand years older than the Stonehenge structures in England and the Egyptian pyramids themselves in Giza. The Hypogeum burial, officially called the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni, is named after the street where it was discovered at the beginning of the last century. Hypogeum means "underground dwelling" in Latin. Many experts claim that the Maltese Hypogeum was built as a temple, a huge underground temple of death and birth with an intricate system of levels, passages, halls and traps. In addition, the skeletons of 30 thousand people of the late Neolithic era and various artifacts were found in the Hypogee. Now historians insist on recognizing it as the eighth wonder of the world.

Some underground chambers repeat the forms of architecture of land-based temples in Malta, and the nature of the structure of the main mother chamber with curved walls, according to historians, clearly indicates that the fertility cult of Mother Earth once flourished on the island. In addition, during the excavations in the Hypogeum, the famous stone figurine of the sleeping obese woman Sleeping Lady was discovered, which is now kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Malta, and also during the excavations in the sanctuary, other important artifacts were discovered, such as various figurines and figurines, amulets and vases. One of the most curious artifacts found is a headless Neolithic figurine, which was found next to two limestone heads, one of the heads may have belonged to this figurine.

The Hypogeum Hal Saflieni was accidentally discovered in Malta during construction work in 1902 while mining a rock surface for building a house, and unfortunately, the builders destroyed most of the upper level built by the ancient builders during ground work, until it was discovered that the found structure could be an object of historical significance. To the great joy of archaeologists, the builders did not have time to damage the main entrance doorway, carved by the ancient builders in a typical traditional form from two large stones that support the lintel.

The upper level of the sanctuary is the oldest section of the Hypogeum, and it is quite obvious that the temple builders originally enlarged the natural cave.

The floor in one room at the deepest level of the sanctuary ends in steps. Researchers believe that the deep level chambers were used for storage, as no remains of human bones were found during excavations. This level was built in the time period when the temple-building civilization mysteriously disappeared on the island.

A few words should be said about the Oracle Room, which is located on the second level of the Khal Saflieni Hypogeum. The room has a small oval niche located at the level of the face. If something is said into this niche in a low male voice, the sounds resonate with a strong echo throughout the entire room of the Hypogeum complex. In the same chamber, a niche with traces of red ocher was found, and the ceiling of this extraordinary chamber is decorated with spirals, also applied with red ocher, and, according to scientists and researchers, ocher drawings symbolize the Tree of Life (Tree of Life). Maltese archaeologist Temi Zammit (Sir Temi Zammit, also a famous Maltese historian, professor, rector of the University of Malta, writer, first director of the National Museum of Archeology of Malta, Valletta in the early 20th century), believed that a place was once identified in Malta finding the Oracle. The oracle, in turn, attracted pilgrims to Malta from all over the Mediterranean region. In addition, archaeologists and historians believe that the ancient architects in Malta, who built megalithic temples, dolmens, burial grounds and other ancient objects in Malta and Gozo, intended for religious services, rituals, ceremonies or for some other purposes, construction used mathematical calculations.

Many underground passages and tunnels, including prehistoric catacombs, were later included by knight builders in the system of fortifications. In some passages and caves they kept food, in others they took refuge during the battle. Right under Valletta, a whole huge underground city grew, in which the poor lived, who did not have their own houses on the surface. Underground cave houses and temples of prehistoric people are scattered all over the island. A few decades ago, anyone could walk Malta from end to end through underground passages without ever rising to the surface. Perhaps this state of affairs would have continued to this day, but the government ordered to block all known entrances to the dungeon after an accident around the first third of the last century, when a group of schoolchildren (about 30 people in total) led by several adults were lost in the underground labyrinth . The children and their teachers decided to arrange an educational tour of the tunnels, but disappeared without a trace, and they were never found.

On the opposite side of the gorge, a little lower, was a ledge similar to the one on which Miss Jezzap stood, and from it a tunnel began into the depths of the rock. Miss Jezzap and the people who were with her saw it with their own eyes and confirmed it in writing and under oath. In addition, on the opposite side of the gorge, they saw several human-like creatures covered with hair, who tried to blow out the candle of the aliens and finally threw something soft and wet at them. The people in a panic pushed through the hole back to the Hypogeum, where they were met by a guide. Noticing the state of Miss Jezzap and her friends, the guide was not at all surprised and made it clear that he knew perfectly well what (and whom) they could see there.

The second name, Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni, comes from the name of the street where this religious building was discovered in 1902 by chance, during the sewerage. The builders who discovered the Hypogeum tried to hide the find for some time and used the artificial cave as a construction waste dump, but the Jesuit father Emmanuel (Father Manuel Magri) became interested in it, who was the first to start excavations. After the death of Father Emmanuel in 1907, the Maltese archaeologist Sir Temi Zammit led the study of the Maltese megaliths. He suggested that there once was an oracle that attracted pilgrims to Malta from all over the Mediterranean. One of the most famous mysteries of the Hypogeum is the so-called Oracle Chamber, with unique acoustics that cause a "many-voiced" echo. But the paradox is that the echo echoes only male voices... The walls of the chamber are painted with ocher spirals. On the upper level there is a large hall, a central passage and burial chambers on each side. The hall is rounded, several passages lead from it, some of them end “blindly”. Here the figures of sleeping women were found - now they are in the Museum of Archeology in Valletta. Near the floor of the last chamber of the underground Hypogeum, on the third and last of the officially recognized sublevels, are the "burial chambers". To look inside, you have to kneel.

One of these chambers is not closed, but continues in the form of a tunnel somewhere into unknown depths. National Geographic magazine in 1940 wrote: "Some daredevils who managed to squeeze into the chamber disappeared into the depths of the passage without a trace and forever." On the second level, there is a two-meter well, in which they seem to have bred snakes or something ... On the third level, groundwater can be observed, some of its rooms are believed to have been used as warehouses. The lowest room is also interesting, the steps leading to it break off at a height of several meters above the floor level. It is located at a depth of 10.6 meters. Numerous scattered bone remains of people and sacrificial animals were found inside the cone- or egg-shaped rooms. It is assumed that a communal burial ground functioned in the Hypogeum for many centuries. The ancient inhabitants of Malta carved new corridors and grottoes in the rock, in which they buried their dead. Geometric patterns were discovered on the walls, as well as traces of the use of ocher for ritual purposes. Hypogeum Khal Saflieni served not only as a place of cult worship and burials, it served primarily for the training of priestesses who professed the cult of the Great Mother. Marija Gimbutas connected Hal Saflieni with her teachings on the matriarchal Old Europe.

As confirmation that the cult of female fertility flourished in Khal Saflieni, she points out that the temple halls are in the form of a mother's womb, and a Neolithic statuette of a sleeping obese woman was discovered inside the Hypogeum, continuing the tradition of Paleolithic venuses. This structure was carved out of the rock for several centuries. The construction dates back to 3600 BC (other dates are given between 4500 and 5000 BC). More precisely, the upper "floor" (3600-3300 BC), the middle (3300-3000 BC) and the lower (3150-2500 BC). In 1992-1996, the hypogeum was under restoration and was closed to the public. The Hypogeum is open to the public daily. One group is allowed per hour, no more than 10 people, only 80 people can visit the temple per day. Entry of groups is strictly at 9, 10, 11 and 13, 14, 15, 16.00. There are seven tours per day. You need to sign up in advance, and only from the site on the Internet (2 euros will also be charged for this service), in the tourist season two weeks in advance, and in the non-tourist season - at least a week in advance, and then redeem tickets in a few days.

The tour begins with a brief overview of a small exhibition of exhibits found during the excavations of the Hypogeum. The following video is shown in English. And only after that, accompanied by a guide, you can go down directly to the Hypogeum. Photo and video filming is strictly prohibited. Before entering, visitors leave all bags and photo and video cameras in the storage room. The cost of a ticket to the Hypogeum is 20 Euros for an adult, 15 Euros for children from 12 to 17 years old and seniors over 60, 10 Euros for children from 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 years old and under will not be allowed in! However, it is not necessary to book tickets in advance (although this reduces the chances of getting into the Hypogeum). There are two "special tours" at 12:00 pm and at 4:00 pm, tickets for which are sold at the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta and at the Museum of Archeology in Gozo, Victoria. They are sold without an order - in a first-come, first-served, slippers! The price is €25. Hypogeum: reachable by bus routes 15, 29, 30 (from http://www.maltavista.ru/analytics/647

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