The Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum is located in Paola, southern Malta, and is one of the most fascinating underground sites of antiquity.
Three Levels Carved into Stone
The hypogeum spans approximately 550 square meters (5,920 square feet), arranged across three superimposed levels.
Upper Level
The oldest level dates back to around 4000 BCE and features chambers resembling megalithic tombs.
Middle Level
The middle level is the most architecturally and artistically elaborate, excavated between 3000 and 2500 BCE. It includes:
- The Oracle Room, known for its remarkable acoustics that allow sounds to resonate throughout the entire complex
- A Decorated Room featuring geometric carvings and red ochre paintings
- The Sancta Sanctorum with nested trilithon portals
Lower Level
This level contains only water and no human remains; it is believed to have served as a storage area.
Findings and Evidence
It was discovered by chance in 1902 during plumbing works. Official excavations began in 1904. Inside the hypogeum, archaeologists found human skeletons, animal offerings, amulets, figurines, pearls, and pottery.
Curiosities and Tales
The Oracle Room has such acoustics that it amplifies only the male voice, creating a resonant and physically perceptible sound throughout the structure.
A popular legend tells of a group of schoolchildren who mysteriously vanished into the tunnels of the hypogeum.