Prehistoric Sites of Malta – Mnajdra

The prehistoric temple of Mnajdra. At the upper right: the inscriptions “MNAJDRA”, “TEMPLES” and the dates “3600-2500 BC”. At the lower left: the name of the issuing state “MALTA” and, below it, the year “2018”.

This 2-euro commemorative coin exists in three varieties. Those in the BU coincard were struck in Pessac and carry the mint's mark and that of mint master Yves Sampo (MT-18 G2). Coins in the ST coin set show an “F” in the lower star (MT-18 G3). Coins from roll stock carry no mintmark (MT-18 G1).

Mnajdra is one of the best-preserved megalithic temple complexes in the world, located in southwestern Malta near the cliffs at Qrendi. The site was built between roughly 3600 and 2500 BC, making it one of the oldest freestanding stone structures in human history — older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Its three interconnected temples were built from coralline limestone and follow the trefoil layout with apse-shaped chambers typical of Maltese temple architecture. Especially notable is its astronomical alignment: at the solstices and equinoxes, light falls through doorways and stone blocks in such a way that specific areas inside the temple are precisely illuminated — evidence of the builders' advanced calendrical knowledge.

Malta's prehistoric sites, which alongside Mnajdra include Ġgantija on Gozo and Ħaġar Qim, have jointly been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. They attest to a distinct temple culture that arose on the Maltese islands without any demonstrable direct models elsewhere in the Mediterranean, and which ended abruptly after several centuries. Mnajdra is thus not only archaeological evidence of early construction technique but also an open field of research: questions about the builders' beliefs, social organisation, and the end of this culture remain unanswered to this day. Malta honoured Mnajdra in 2018 as part of its series on the prehistoric sites of Malta.