Books by Lenie Reedijk Sirius The Star of the Maltese Temples Buy Online

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Few people know that during the Stone Age, dozens of temples were erected in the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo, all in the same style and largely according to the same unique ground plan.

It’s our pleasure to welcome Lenie Reedijk, Author of the Month for February, who uncovers revolutionary implications for the antiquity of the hitherto misunderstood megalithic sites in Malta in Sirius: Star of the Maltese Temples.

I first set foot on the Maltese islands in January 1990. What was planned to be just a winter break of a few weeks would turn out to be an encounter with the passion of a lifetime.

Like almost everyone else who first lands in Malta, I wasignorant of its prehistoric temples. I visited Valletta, walked down Republic Street and passed the Museum of Archaeology. In those days there were show windows near the entrance. In them the goddess statues from the temples were on display and they could be seen from the street, as if they were placed there to invite the public to visit the museum. It certainly did the trick for me. They lured me inside… and I haven’t been the same since.

Star gazing figurine from the Xaghra Circle

Sleeping lady of the Hypogeum

That year, the Maltese winter was sunny and very pleasant. I bought David Trump’s booklet, Malta, an Archaeological Guide, which was just about the only book about the temple period on the market at the time. I made it my