Wonder at Mnajdra

There were gasps of delight yesterday morning as the sun streamed through the portals of Mnajdra temple when it rose above the slight cloud at 6.25 a.m., flooding the temple with light.

The temple is aligned from east to south east and on the first day of each of the four seasons, the rising sun enters the southern temple and lights up its interior. On the equinox, yesterday, it also lights up the temple's main axis, all the way to the "altar" at the end.

Heritage Malta opened the temple to the public earlier than normal yesterday to allow people to experience this unique event, an opportunity taken up by scores of locals and tourists.

Many people brought their children with them, ready for school once the sun had risen. The experience was captured on film by many of them.

Mnajdra temples, comprising three temple remains, were probably built between 3600 to 2500 BC.

Throughout the world, ancient standing stones and circles have been positioned to act as observation posts on the sun's solstices and equinoxes and the movements of the moon.