uuworld.org: liberal religion and life  temple at Mnajdra, Malta
A new day  Fourteen women gather at a Stone Age temple to greet
the sun on the fall equinox. By Anne Peek Fall 2005 8.15.05
Printer friendly version   Before dawn of the fall equinox,
fourteen women and I eagerly made our way in the dark by foot to
a Stone Age temple, Mnajdra. We had been on the Mediterranean
island of Malta for nine days, exploring numerous Neolithic
temples dedicated to Mother Earth still standing here. This
morning’s excursion was the culmination of our trip, to watch
the rays of the rising sun illuminate the altar at the fall
equinox.  We had agreed beforehand to maintain silence at least
until sunrise. When we reached the top of the hill above the
temple, we were told we had to wait there, still quite a
distance from the temple itself, until closer to sunrise. My
initial disappointment at this news drained away as I stood
looking around me in the cool dimness before dawn. Only the sky
was truly visible. A delicate quarter