The Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni , page 1

The Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni is the only known prehistoric subterranean temple in the world. For background on it please refer to the linked entry, this thread will only focus on the unknowns, the mysteries of it.



The article From the otherworld to another world? (among a few other sources) by alternative-archaeology researcher Phillip Coppens makes some astonishing claims some of which I have turned into questions and expanded upon for this thread.

* If it was only discovered in 1902 by chance, then why does the much older name of the place on the surface, "Tal-Gherien" mean "of the caves"? Whoever gave that name may have known something, but kept it secret, just like the discoverers of the cave (military workers) tried to keep it secret initially.

* Why were the reports of Emmanuel Magri, the first official excavator of the site, prevented from being published? Why, upon his death in 1907 had all of his notebooks on the excavation disappeared?

* Why were the bones of humans and animals that were found, mixed and why were there no complete human skeletons? Why was it originally said that the bones of 33 000 people were found and this figure later changed to 7000? And why have most of these bones disappeared? They were put on record, so where are they?

* What is the exact nature of the elongated skulls found there? And why do only six of the originally eleven remain in the museum? What happened to the others?

* Was the depiction of a Bison Bull removed from one of the walls of the underground temple? Was it because that species was extinct by 3600 B.C. (the time the temple was supposed to have been built) as a Dr. Anton Mifsud claims? And is it true that the pictures removal was ordered by the Museum Director as claimed?

* Why was another underground temple, the Hypogeum of Santa Lucia completely sealed off and a cemetery built over it, making it impossible to research?

* Why was another underground temple on the nearby Island of Gozo, which was discovered in 1820, "lost" for more than a hundred years only to be "rediscovered" in 1964? And why did it take until 1994 to re-excavate it? And why had parts of it been destroyed back in the 19th Century?

* Why do some statues found at the Gozo temple show human-animal hybrids, such as a person with a pigs head? Any connections to the mixed animal-human bones found at Ħal-Saflieni?

* Is there any truth to the tales of strange humanoid beings dwelling in the caverns below? Is there any truth to the tales of disappearing children and people?

The purpose of this thread is to examine whether the assertions made by Coppens and other alternative researchers are true and if so, to find some very much needed answers to them. The thread is also to use the intelligence of ATS-members who might come up with more on the subject.


[edit on 29-6-2009 by Skyfloating]

It's a shame tourism has resulted in the complete bastardization of such a fascinating site. Nothing like a glass looking gallery over the entrance and nice safe steel walkways through the catacombs to experience archeology at it's finest, hell, why not a moving walkway while we're at it? I hate it when they feel they need to "sanitize" a site before sharing it with the public. This site now looks like it has all the thrill of a Disney ride.

If you're wondering what I'm ranting about take a look at HISTORICAL SITES OF MALTA, to see the grand re-opening of the "new" Hal Saflieni Hypogeum of Paola.

The Hypogeum does look like it might be a leftover of ancient neolithic worship or belief system (some say its paleolithic), perhaps it's people were seeking to avoid contact with more civilized cultures infiltrating their lands? Such a neolithic culture may have practiced a form of animism that led them to combine the bones of their deceased with animal bones, or depicted "hybrid" animal/human species. The painted wall in the decorated room even has a shaman-like quality to it.

Another debate surrounding this site is is it paleolithic or neolithic?

You mention the "bison / bull" depiction (why on earth would a museum director order its removal?), does that offer a clue it its age?

The age of Taurus began 4430BC and lasted to 2270BC, so a depiction of a bull fits in with the possibility of it belonging to a neolithic culture. Many of the "bull" cults in ancient near east cultures originated around that time, and Malta is not so far from the bull-oriented Minoan civilization in Crete. But the bull depiction may only show that the site was still in use at that time, and any earlier animal depictions eradicated in favor of the new zodiac form during the precession of equinoxes, just as bulls were eradicated in favor of rams a couple thousand years later.

reply to post by Skyfloating

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I find it very odd that remains in Malta always get destroyed or disappear

definitely something about Malta someone doesn't want us to discover

Originally posted by jokei
Don't most ancient cultures have some sort of representation of human/animal hybrids?

Hybrids - genetically engineered?

Originally posted by warrenb

the knights left their mark but, I read somewhere that remains have been found over the years and stored in various palces then the places burn down or the remains vanish

suspicious indeed

Underground Tunnels found in Valletta, Malta

Originally posted by Blackmarketeer
If you're wondering what I'm ranting about take a look at HISTORICAL SITES OF MALTA, to see the grand re-opening of the "new" Hal Saflieni Hypogeum of Paola.

That takes the entire magic out of it. They should have built all that beside the structure, not on top of it.

[edit on 30-6-2009 by Skyfloating]

Animal/human hybrids are called therianthropes and are found in images throughout the prehistoric world and even are in use today if you consider vampires and wolfmen.

The depiction above has an insect head, a cloven hoof and 6 digits on one hand and is entirely my own conception of the genre. It is shown climbing up into the Underworld and represents a shaman travelling into the vortex of deep trance.

Representations of such psychic voyages may be found in places as diverse as South Africa, Egypt, Greece and Crete, so I'm not surprised to hear of it found at Malta. Perhaps the Malta temples were then what the Vatican is to us today in the 21st century... the culmination of a proto-religion in one specific region where people would travel to from far distances much the same way pilgrimages happen now.

From your link: www.philipcoppens.com...

Marija Gimbutas commented (regarding the Sleeping Lady*): “Why is she sleeping in the tomb? One explanation is that this represents a rite of initiation or incubation. To sleep within the Goddess’ womb was to die and to come to life anew.”

-snip-

and Zammit proposed that the type of initiation that was practiced here, was the so-called “temple sleep”: where the initiate is asked to spend the night in a temple; if he or she is able to fall asleep, the dreams were thought to be influenced by the deities, and might provide insight about the past, the present, or the future.

-snip-

nterestingly, some figurines have human heads, supported on triangular bodies, but one is attached to a two-limbed animal body, while another has a pig’s head. Do these suggest certain shamanic practices – temple sleep obviously being a divinatory method too?

-snip-

Musicians have stated that the temple has perfect acoustics

-snip-

Spirals are often associated with the visions experienced during hallucinations, and the walls of caves are seen, since at least 20,000 years ago in France, as doorways into other dimensions, out of which the deities – the ancestors – were said to come into this realm.

*italics mine

Originally posted by Skyfloating:

* What is the exact nature of the elongated skulls found there? And why do only six of the originally eleven remain in the museum? What happened to the others?

A personal speculation is that a possible reason for the practice of 'binding the skull' may have its roots in combining the left and right hemispheres of the brain into one completely interconnected. Perhaps such configuration eased the transition to enhanced ability for contacting the spirit world.

On the multiple conspiracies associated with such 'temples' (which is what I believe them to be), I can only assume suppression by a religion which denied direct human connection to the spiritual realm and actively worked to erase all evidences to the contrary. That religion became a source of wealth and a means to control the populations.

Yet, it lives still today, in the ritual practices of those considered 'uncivilized' and 'backwards'. A singularly wonderful source for insight on detailed ritual practices is Frank Waters 'Book of the Hopi'.

Another great source is the work of Professor Emeritus [Senior Mentor in the Rock Art Research Institute, University of Witwaterstrand, Johannesburg] David Lewis-Williams, in his book 'The Mind in the Cave - Consciousness and the Origins of Art'.

Further (and more contemporary) reading of Lewis-Williams efforts would be 'San Spirituality'. However, the textbook is terribly difficult to obtain. I've tried for two years now and have had no luck whatsoever even though I've gone through multiple suppliers.

Another conspiracy to silence a researcher? Personally, I'm of the opinion that this is so. We are not allowed to consider our own capabilities in contact with the divine and must leave such communications to those who would benefit most for obvious and aforementioned reasons.

Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey

by William Wordsworth
(1770-1850)


—that serene and blessed mood,
In which the affections gently lead us on,
Until, the breath of this corporeal frame,
And even the motion of our human blood
Almost suspended, we are laid asleep
In body, and become a living soul:
While with an eye made quiet by the power
Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,
We see into the life of things.

classiclit.about.com...

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grammar edit

[edit on 30/6/09 by masqua]

Some speculate about an ancient subterranean tunnel system spanning from Italy through Malta and on to Libya. I could not find anything on this except that it is common knowledge that there are ancient tunnels in the Sahara Desert of Libya and that there are ancient tunnels in Malta (people having used them to hide in world war 2), and there are ancient tunnels in Sicily and Italy.

This was an interesting find, but I could not find anything on it in English. From the little bit I do understand it speculates about advanced technology being used in ancient tunnels somewhere in Italy.

Italy: Ipogea

reply to post by masqua

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Thanks for the vivid read. The longer I look into this stuff the more inclined I am to consider this alternative possibility: Of our true spiritual potential and shamanism being suppressed by religion on the one side and mechanistic scientism on the other side.

reply to post by Skyfloating

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Great thread, as usual

I was able to come up with this evolution of the Maltese language.

I'll be interested to see what our Maltese members have to say about it. A fascinating area of the world. I hope to visit it some day.

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