Make your hair stand on end! 3 freaky myths and legends about Malta’s ancient temples
The ancient temples of the Maltese Islands have been around for centuries and are even older than the pyramids of Egypt! And just like other places, the ancient ruins have some really chilling stories to tell.
1. Ggantija
The large temple complex is the earliest of all the megalithic temples in Malta and still stands to this day. Ggantija, or the Giant’s Tower in English, can be found in the heart of Gozo (in Xaghra).
According to local legend, a female giant called Sunsuna carried the rocks on her head from Ta' Cenc, a considerable distance away. The stones are larger than a human being - surely no mere mortal could possibly have moved them?
2. Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
According to local legend, 30 students on a school outing disappeared, along with their tour guide, into the spooky caves of the hypogeum, leaving no trace. Search parties were sent out in vain to track the group down.
It is believed that they were trapped in one of the caves as it collapsed on them. However, locals in the area claim that, for weeks after the incident, the wailing children could be heard in different parts of Paola, without anyone ever locating them.
3. Il-Maqluba
The Maqluba legend, as recounted by locals, tells of a village whose inhabitants were not living according to the will of God. A devout woman used to warn them on the need to change their ways and revert to a righteous life, as otherwise the Almighty would punish them.
With her warnings ignored, everything was destroyed as the village was swallowed by the land and all that remained was a large and deep hole in the ground. Only the God-fearing woman survived - supposedly. A variant of this legend speaks of a nun as having been saved while praying in the small San Matthew crypt during the collapse.