THE SLEEPING LADY

National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta.  “The Sleeping Lady” is a clay figurine of exquisite craftmanship discovered in one of the chambers of the Hypogeum underground temple and necropolis. She is believed to be a fertility goddess, crafted over 5½ thousand years ago, ca. 3600 BC. That’s a full thousand years older than Egypt’s pyramids.  The ancient culture of Malta is one of humanity’s most fascinating.  (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #307 photo ©Jack Wheeler)