The Mysteries of Ancient Malta

The unassuming museum built above the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a prehistoric subterranean temple and ossuary in the town of Paola.
Photograph by Stefaan & Eric via Flickr.
The approach to Gozo, Malta’s sister island.

As seen from the ferry that runs between Malta and Gozo.

Photograph by John Swansburg.
The Ggantija Temples on Gozo.
Photograph by DoNotLick via Flickr.
Another shot of Ggantija.
Photograph by Clive Vella for the Malta Tourism Authority.
The Hal Tarxien temples, an above-ground complex near the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola, Malta.
Photograph by Peuplier via Flickr.
Another shot of Hal Tarxien.
Photograph by Peuplier via Flickr.
A Venus discovered in one of Malta’s ancient temples.
Photograph by bobo_milan via Flickr.
The so-called Sleeping Lady of Malta.
Photograph by Jan Van Der Crabben via Wikipedia Commons.
St. Paul’s wrist bone.

One of the relics displayed in the Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck, in Valletta.
Photograph by John Swansburg.
Another relic: The column on which St. Paul was supposedly beheaded.

Photograph by John Swansburg.
The Xewkija Rotunda, the largest church on Gozo.

Photograph by John Swansburg.
The Popeye Village Fun Park.

It resides on the set of Robert Altman’s 1980 film Popeye.
Photograph by John Swansburg.
The Sweethaven Post Office.
Photograph by Happy Menocal.
The Sweethaven Sawmill, now a miniature golf course.

Photograph by Happy Menocal.
Bluto makes his move on Olive Oyl.

During the performance of a short play.
Photograph by John Swansburg.
Popeye, having rescued Olive from Bluto’s clutches, dances a jig with her.
Photograph by John Swansburg.
A menu from one of Sweethaven’s restaurants.

Inexplicably, not a leaf of spinach to be found.

Return to the article, "Malta: 10 Days, 6,000 Years of History"

Photograph by John Swansburg.