Megolithic Temples in Malta.

[Danustouch]

These megolithic temples are believed to predate stonehenge, and bear a striking resemblence to some of the Celtic Megolithic structures. Read More:

http://www.otsf.org/introduction.html

[Calixto]

The Megaliths in Brittany, Spain and the British Isles are pre-Celtic structures.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if they were the result of Maltese influence.

Those ruins in Malta are extremely impressive, and would be more so if millenia of farmers hadn't dug up stones and broken them down because they got in the way of their plows...

Two megaliths in Brittany were particularly impressive. One was destroyed in WWII, and another fell down after being hit by lightning and shattered into several pieces...both were over 100 tons, and stood tens of meters tall. It boggles the mind to think they built that without metal tools or beasts of burden...

[Azure]

But Cal, didn't Obelix have a job as a menhir delivery guy???

(Sorry, just a little obscure French comic book humor, ignore the blue girl).

[Danustouch]

How do you think the influence of the Maltese megaliths reached the Brittany??? Is there any evidence of trade routes from Malta to that part of Europe??? (not saying it isn't possible. Just wondering if there is any historical evidence to support that theory).

[Calixto]

I just found some discussion of who far the Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples would sail. The general conclusion arising is that the sea was more a highway than a barrier to them, and the ease of communication explains the similarity in material culture (esp. with the Megaliths) of this period from Denmark to Spain.

The impression is also that Spain and Southern France have the oldest Megaliths of the group. From Malta to those regions wouldn't be so far...the Maltese Megaliths are supposedly older than the ones in Europe, so a diffusion is possible.

However, they could be independent developments. (Most archaeologists would say they were, diffusionism is well out of favour today). All I'm saying is, its a possible influence.

I can remember old speculation that the Megaliths were due to Kemetic or Mycenean influence...but the constructions are older than the Mycenean Cyclopean architecture, and I doubt the xenophobic Old Kingdom people of Kemet were sailing to Malta or the cold lands of Europe...


Azure: If I remember correctly, that is what Obelix did...but I've not read * in a long time. I used to read it in Singapore and Mexico where a lot of English and French stuff was easily available. I have not seen much of either in the bookstores here. :(

Cal

[Danustouch]

Please translate for us peons.

I have no idea what you mean by diffusion, or the mycenean cyclopic xenophobian...etc..lol...explain?

[Calixto]

Diffusionism: The idea that certain cultural, technological and religious ideas originated in one area and diffused or spread to others.

Mycenean Cyclopean: The Mycenean Greeks built large monuments of large stones so large the later Greeks thought they had to have been built by Cyclops.

Xenophobic: Fearful/Hateful of Foreigners

[Danustouch]

Thanks.