Ġgantija, the Work of Giants
On the island of Gozo stand temples older than Stonehenge, built of stones so big that legend said only giants could move them.
What was reported
The Ġgantija temples on Gozo, in Malta, were built from about 3600 BC, making them among the oldest free-standing buildings in the world. Their outer walls include stones weighing several tonnes, some over 5 metres long.
Local folklore says they were built by a giantess who carried the stones on her head. The name comes from the Maltese word for giant.
Explanations offered
Archaeologists think the stones were moved by people using stone balls as rollers, some of which have been found nearby. The temples are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Malta's other megalithic temples. Why their builders' culture faded around 2500 BC is still studied.
- When
- Built around 3600 BC
- Where
- Xagħra, Gozo, Malta
- Witnesses
- Islanders, then archaeologists
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.