Ancient Giants of Malta: Archaeological Evidence of Megalithic Builders
The legends of giants in Malta have persisted for centuries, intertwining with the island's rich archaeological history. In 1985, Maltese pediatrician Dr. Anton Mood received an alarming call from his contractor on Gozo island about the discovery of a 10-foot human skeleton during excavation work. This extraordinary finding echoed ancient Maltese folklore about giants who once inhabited the archipelago.
Malta's strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea has made it a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years. The islands are home to remarkable megalithic temples, including Ġgantija on Gozo, constructed from massive limestone blocks weighing up to 20 tons each. In the 16th century, nobleman John Abela became fascinated with these structures and collected artifacts that appeared to support the existence of giants. His discoveries of oversized bone fragments led to pioneering historical documentation that continues to influence discussions about Malta's mysterious past.
Key Takeaways
Ancient megalithic temples across the Maltese islands feature enormous stone blocks that have fueled local legends about giant builders.
Dr. Anton Mood's 1985 discovery on Gozo island of apparent giant remains echoed similar findings documented centuries earlier by historian John Abela.
Malta's strategic Mediterranean location has created a rich historical context where archaeological discoveries frequently intertwine with local mythology.
Dr. Mood's Discovery on Gozo
In 1985, pediatrician Anton Mood received an urgent call from his contractor on Gozo, one of Malta's remote islands. The contractor's voice trembled with fear as he explained what workers had uncovered while clearing land for Dr. Mood's new medical clinic.
Initially concerned about potential injuries or equipment problems, Dr. Mood was stunned to learn the true nature of the discovery: human skeletal remains of extraordinary size. The contractor claimed the skeleton measured approximately 10 feet in length, a dimension Dr. Mood initially dismissed as impossible.
The discovery immediately brought to mind ancient Maltese legends about giants who once inhabited the islands. These stories had persisted for centuries, particularly surrounding the megalithic temples found throughout Malta and Gozo.
Gozo is home to the impressive Ġgantija temple complex, whose name literally translates to "giant's tower" in Maltese. These structures feature massive limestone blocks weighing up to 20 tons and standing 20 feet high, constructed long before the invention of the wheel or metal tools.
According to local folklore, a giant named SSA (or Sansuna in some tellings) built these temples. The legends describe how she protected early Maltese farmers from raiders and pirates by using her tremendous strength to place the enormous stones one by one.
This wasn't the first time giant remains had allegedly been found on the islands. In the 1530s, nobleman John Abela documented similar discoveries while investigating Malta's ancient structures. His workers uncovered oversized human bones, including femurs, tibias, vertebrae, and skull fragments.
Abela published his findings in a pioneering book about Maltese history, claiming these remains belonged to beings approximately 10 feet tall. His work suggested that the megalithic temples scattered across Malta's islands—at least 30 different sites—might indeed have been constructed by giants rather than ordinary humans.
Dr. Mood's discovery on Gozo reignited interest in these ancient legends, challenging modern scientific understanding about human history on these strategically positioned Mediterranean islands, which sit just 60 miles from Italy and 180 miles from North Africa.
The Legend of Giants in Malta
In 1985, a startling discovery shook the small Maltese island of Gozo when construction workers unearthed a 10-foot human skeleton while preparing land for a medical clinic. The contractor immediately called local pediatrician Dr. Anton Mifsud, who initially dismissed the claim as impossible—until he recalled ancient legends that had persisted through generations.
These findings weren't unprecedented in Malta's history. In 1530, Maltese nobleman John Abela became fascinated with the island's megalithic temples, particularly those constructed from massive limestone blocks weighing up to 20 tons and standing 20 feet high. During his investigations, workers discovered human bones of extraordinary size—femurs twice the length of normal human bones, suggesting individuals of approximately 10 feet in height.
The most impressive of these ancient structures is Ġgantija on Gozo, a name derived from the Maltese word for "giant." This complex consists of two buildings constructed from enormous limestone blocks that have withstood the test of time for thousands of years. According to local legend, these temples weren't built by ordinary humans but by a giant guardian named Sansuna.
Maltese folklore tells that Sansuna came from a race called the Nephilim. Though initially frightening to the local farmers, she earned their trust by protecting them from raiders and pirates. Using her tremendous strength, she single-handedly moved enormous stones to construct 30 different megalithic temples across the Maltese islands—a feat impossible for ancient farmers without metal tools or knowledge of the wheel.
By 1647, Abela had collected enough skeletal evidence to publish a groundbreaking book documenting skull fragments, giant femurs, tibias, vertebrae, and pelvic bones of extraordinary size. His work established him as the "father of Maltese history" and brought international attention to Malta's mysterious giants.
Malta's strategic location—60 miles from Italy and 180 miles from North Africa—made it valuable territory for successive civilizations including the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Christians. Throughout these conquests and changes in power, the legend of Sansuna transformed from accepted history into myth—until the discovery of bones challenged modern skepticism.
A Cooking Catastrophe
The Kitchen Fiasco
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The Critic's Arrival
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The Ancient Maltese Temples
Malta's ancient temples stand as remarkable testament to prehistoric engineering. The most impressive of these structures is Ġgantija on the island of Gozo, constructed from enormous limestone blocks, some weighing up to 20 tons and reaching heights of 20 feet. This megalithic complex features two separate buildings that continue to stand today, thousands of years after their construction.
Local legends attribute these massive structures to a giant named Sansuna, believed to be from a race called the Nephilim. According to folklore, she arrived after a fiery object crashed on the island, emerging from the woods as a figure taller than the trees. Despite initial fear from the inhabitants, she supposedly earned their trust and became their protector against raiders and pirates.
The islands of Malta have maintained continuous human occupation for millennia due to their strategic Mediterranean location. Situated 60 miles from Italy and 180 miles from North Africa, they've been governed by numerous powers including the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Christians.
In 1530, nobleman John Abela began documenting Malta's ancient buildings and collecting artifacts. His excavations revealed structures of stunning size, raising questions about how prehistoric farmers could have created them without metal tools or even the wheel.
The mystery deepened in 1647 when workers discovered unusually large human remains. Abela's collection included:
A femur twice the size of a normal human's
Skull fragments
Enormous vertebrae
Massive pelvic bones
These findings suggested individuals of approximately 10 feet in height. Abela documented these discoveries in his pioneering work, establishing himself as the "father of Maltese history" and offering a potential explanation for the island's megalithic structures.
The Historical Context of Malta
Malta's strategic Mediterranean location, situated 60 miles from Italy and 180 miles from North Africa, has made it a coveted territory throughout history. Various civilizations have occupied these islands, beginning with the Phoenicians, followed by Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Christians, each leaving their mark on Maltese heritage.
In 1530, a nobleman named John Abela became Malta's first documented antiquarian. He meticulously cataloged artifacts and ancient structures across the islands, many of which had been buried under centuries of debris. His excavations revealed extraordinarily large megalithic temples that seemed impossible for ancient farmers to construct without modern tools.
The mystery deepened in 1647 when Abela published his groundbreaking work on Maltese history. This influential text documented his discoveries of unusually large human remains found throughout the islands. Among these findings were enormous skull fragments, femurs, tibias, vertebrae, and pelvic bones that suggested the existence of individuals approximately 10 feet tall.
Perhaps the most impressive ancient structure in Malta is Ġgantija on the island of Gozo. Built with massive limestone blocks weighing up to 20 tons and standing 20 feet high, these temples were constructed thousands of years before the invention of metal tools or the wheel. The name "Ġgantija" itself derives from the Maltese word for "giant," reflecting local legends about their construction.
Maltese folklore speaks of a giant called Sansuna from a race known as the Nephilim. According to legend, she served as a guardian for the ancient Maltese people, protecting them from raiders and pirates. The stories claim she single-handedly constructed 30 different megalithic temples across the islands by moving enormous stones that humans couldn't possibly handle.
In 1985, these legends gained renewed interest when a contractor clearing land for a medical clinic on Gozo discovered human remains. The skeleton measured approximately 10 feet long, causing local residents to recall their ancient tales of giants who once inhabited their islands.
Dawn of Ancient Giants
The Celestial Arrival
A simple Maltese farmer witnessed an extraordinary event one late winter night thousands of years ago. Awakened by a deep rumbling sound, he stepped outside to investigate the strange orange glow washing over his wheat field. Unlike typical meteors, a single massive object blazed through the night sky, appearing to grow larger as it approached the island. Before he could warn his family, the fiery object roared overhead and crashed in a nearby valley with a brilliant flash of light.
When the farmer turned to comfort his frightened wife, he discovered she was staring past him. Rising from the woods near the crash site stood an immense figure, silhouetted against the night sky, towering above the trees. This was the arrival of Sanuna, a being who would forever change Malta's history.
Despite initial fear from locals, Sanuna gradually earned their trust. She identified herself as one of the Nephilim, a race of giants, and promised to protect the vulnerable island communities from raiders and pirates who frequently threatened their safety.
The Monumental Legacy
With Sanuna's extraordinary strength, the massive limestone blocks scattered across Malta—some weighing 20 tons and standing 20 feet high—became valuable building materials. These enormous stones, previously considered unusable by early Maltese settlers who lacked metal tools or the wheel, were effortlessly moved and positioned by the giant.
Sanuna constructed 30 different megalithic temples throughout the Maltese islands. The most impressive of these structures stands on the island of Gozo, named "Gigantija" by locals—literally meaning "giant" in Maltese. This remarkable temple complex consists of two separate buildings constructed from enormous limestone blocks, and remarkably, still stands intact today.
Over centuries, Sanuna's story faded into legend. The notion that a giant moved these massive stone blocks seemed implausible—until human remains of extraordinary size were discovered. In 1530, a Maltese nobleman named John Abela began documenting the ancient temples. During excavations, workers discovered a human femur twice the normal size, suggesting a person approximately 10 feet tall.
By 1647, Abela had collected enough oversized human remains—including skull fragments, tibias, vertebrae, and pelvic bones—to publish a groundbreaking book on Maltese history that brought international attention to these findings and forever connected Malta's megalithic structures with legends of giants.
The Historical Impact of Significant Discoveries
Jean de Valette's Contributions to Maltese History
The Maltese islands have been strategically important for thousands of years, situated just 60 miles from Italy and 180 miles from North Africa. This central Mediterranean location made Malta a prized possession for numerous empires throughout history. The Phoenicians were the first major power to claim these islands, followed by Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and eventually Christian rulers.
Ancient megalithic temples dot the Maltese landscape, with approximately 30 structures built using massive limestone blocks. The most impressive example stands on the island of Gozo, known as Ġgantija - derived from the Maltese word for "giant." These remarkable structures feature walls up to three stories high, constructed with limestone blocks weighing up to 20 tons each.
For centuries, local legends attributed these impressive structures to a giant named Sansuna, supposedly from a race called the Nephilim. According to folklore, Sansuna arrived after a fiery object crashed on Malta, and despite initially frightening locals, she eventually earned their trust and became their protector against raiders and pirates.
The Pioneering Work of John de Abela
In 1530, a nobleman named John de Abela became one of the first to systematically document Malta's ancient structures. He meticulously collected artifacts and recorded details about these ancient buildings, most of which had been buried under centuries of debris and neglect.
De Abela's archaeological work took an unexpected turn when workers discovered unusually large human remains. The first significant find was a femur (the largest bone in the human leg) approximately twice the size of a normal human bone. A person with such proportions would have stood around 10 feet tall.
Following this discovery, de Abela organized extensive excavations across the islands. By 1647, his collection included skull fragments, giant femurs, tibias, large vertebrae, and enormous pelvic bones. These findings led to his groundbreaking publication that documented these remarkable discoveries.
De Abela's work earned him recognition as the "father of Maltese history." His systematic approach to documenting both the megalithic structures and the unusual remains established a foundation for future archaeological studies in Malta.
In 1985, the discovery tradition continued when construction workers on Gozo uncovered human bones while preparing land for a medical clinic. The contractor reported finding a skeleton approximately 10 feet long, echoing the findings documented by de Abela more than three centuries earlier.
