Heritage Malta’s Gozo Area Office has inaugurated a new exhibition featuring drawings, water colours and engravings focusing on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ggantija Temples. This exhibition, entitled 19th Century Souvenir Illustrations of the Ggantija Temples, is located within the Citadel, at the Gozo Area Exhibition Hall in Victoria, and it will be open during the Notte Gozitana event.Interest in the ruins of the Ggantija Temples has been recorded in literature for over three centuries but it was not until its ‘discovery’ in the 1820’s that it started attracting the attention of distinguished travellers, aristocrats and academics from all over the European continent. Local and foreign artists responded to this ever growing interest in the Ggantija prehistoric monument with something akin to an explosion of work that is simultaneously intriguing and captivating. Travellers wishing to preserve a memory of what was then called, the Giants’ Tower, would acquire or sometimes commission an artistic view of the monument in the form of a single work or a complete set.

This exhibition gives a fascinating insight into the prolific production of one of the earliest forms of commercial postcards illustrating the Ggantija Temple complex as it includes a selection of works that give a glimpse into this thriving market. Each work captures the artist’s subjective attitude towards the monument and his knowledge of the site. Together these can be considered as some of the most remarkable archaeological documents to be produced on Maltese prehistory in the 19th century.

The Ggantija Temples are located in the village of Xaghra on the island of Gozo. The megalithic monument consists of two temples, built side by side and enclosed within a boundary wall. The larger southerly one is the oldest, dating back to approximately 3600 BC. The northern Temple was constructed a few centuries later. In 1980, the Ggantija Temples were given UNESCO World Heritage status. Twelve years later, the inscription was revised to include all the megalithic temples of Malta.

A new publication by Heritage Malta entitled ‘The Ggantija Temples: a history of its visitors and views’ will be launched in conjunction with this exhibition. Those interested in purchasing this publication can do so from any Heritage Malta Museums and Sites, priced at ten Euros.

This exhibition will run till the 23rd of July and it will be open to the public during the week from 9.00 till 5.00 in the evening and on Saturday from 9.00 till noon.

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