A hypogeum is an underground burial structure with a vault. In 1899, the underground Neolithic temple complex of Ħal-Saflieni was accidentally discovered in the Maltese city of Paola during the construction of a cystern for new buildings. However, the sensational find was only reported to the authorities in 1902, who then immediately ordered a halt to construction. Skeletons of around 7000 people were found in the caves. During the first excavations by the archaeologist Manuel Magri, part of the excavated material - containing human remains and grave goods - disappeared and the excavation report was also lost with Magri's death in 1907. The physician, chemistry professor, historian and archaeologist Themistocles Zammit continued the excavations until 1911 and handed over the now carefully documented finds from the hypogeum - such as the terracotta figure of the 'Sleeping Lady' (sleeping Venus) - to the National Archaeological Museum in Valletta, which he directed. The hypogeum, dated to between 4000 and 2500 BC and partly decorated with ochre-coloured paintings, has a total area of around 500 m² and was driven into the soft limestone to a depth of 10 metres. It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1980. The coin motif is the room called 'Holy of Holies', which shows a complete façade with threshold and orthostats, borrowed from the architecture of the above-ground megalithic temples of Malta, but carved into the rock, with a cantilevered vault above. |
