The Legend of The Giantess of Ggantija
The Ġgantija temples on the island of Gozo are some of the earliest megalithic structures in existence, dating to about 3600 BC. Maltese mythology attributes them to a giantess by the name of Sansuna who, according to legend, constructed the temples to call forth rain and fertility. She built them all by herself, demonstrating remarkable strength while still taking care of her half-giant, half-human kid.
Giant stones are claimed to have been carried over four kilometres by Sansuna, the giantess of Gozo, while also carrying her young infant on the other shoulder. Interestingly, the only foods she consumed were wide beans and honey (water is sometimes used in place of honey in other versions of the story). The history of the Ġgantija temple complex has been interpreted in a variety of ways, and this is only one of them. According to some beliefs, a race of giants may have built it as a defence structure.
According to the legend, Sansuna’s outstanding accomplishments and her generosity to the people of Malta and Gozo are demonstrated by the Ġgantija Temple. Since it commemorates both the island’s historical history and the virtue of selflessness in times of need, this story occupies a particular place in Maltese mythology.
Similar traditions inspired the names of several megalithic sites in Europe, including “Hunebedden” in the Netherlands, “Barclodiad y Gawres” in Wales, and “Tomba dei Giganti” in Sardinia. It seems natural that giants would have lived during the megalithic epoch, when massive stones were dug, carved, and constructed before the advent of sophisticated technical procedures, since giants have always been a component of mythology, folklore, and religion.
