Prehistoric Sites of Malta – Tarxien

The megalithic Tarxien Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the lower right of the design: the trilithon portal of the southern temple. To the upper right: the inscriptions "TARXIEN TEMPLES" and the dates "3600 – 2500 BC". To the lower left: the issuing state "MALTA" and the year "2021". To the lower right: the designer Noel Galea Bason's initials "NGB".

The Tarxien Temples are among the oldest and best-preserved megalithic heritage sites in Malta. The complex, located south of Valletta, was built in several phases between roughly 3600 and 2500 BC and consists of four interconnected temples constructed from massive limestone blocks. Particularly remarkable are the richly decorated interior walls with spiral reliefs and animal depictions, along with a monumental statue fragment that likely originally represented a larger-than-life figure. Excavations in the early 20th century under Themistocles Zammit also uncovered extensive remains of animal sacrifices and cultic implements, suggesting a complex ritual practice.

Together with five other prehistoric temple complexes on Malta and Gozo — including Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra — the Tarxien Temples were recognised in 1980 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Megalithic Temples of Malta". They stand as evidence of a distinct island tradition that developed in parallel with the early civilisations of the Mediterranean, without direct models on the European mainland. For Malta, these sites are a central element of national identity: they demonstrate that the islands were permanently settled and culturally active thousands of years before the Phoenician, Roman and Arab periods. As part of its "Prehistoric Sites of Malta" series, Malta honoured the Tarxien Temples with a 2-euro commemorative coin in 2021.