Am seeing this issue shared here on Maltese timelines, and I think it deserves a calm but honest word. Malta has a rich Roman heritage and several dedicated groups who work hard to present it accurately, respectfully, and in a way that genuinely educates the public.
That’s why it would be a real pity if things start drifting into the kind of street‑corner gimmicks you find around the Colosseum in Rome, where costumed individuals hassle tourists for cash in exchange for a photo.
We don’t need that here. Malta is small enough that once something starts, it becomes “normal” very quickly. Better to address it now, before it turns into a free‑for‑all that cheapens both the history and the public spaces we all share.
There’s a big difference between proper historical re‑enactment and someone throwing on a random “Roman” outfit to make a quick euro.
One is cultural work; the other is opportunism. And if people are approaching passers‑by for money under the guise of “Roman soldiers”, then it’s fair for those who actually safeguard this heritage to speak up.
This isn’t about attacking anyone. It’s simply about keeping standards, protecting authenticity, and avoiding the slippery slope that other countries have already experienced.
Malta deserves better than turning Triton Square into a carnival sideshow.
Nip it in the bud now, before it becomes another headache we all complain about later.
Tul dawn l-ahhar gimghat, wasluli diversi rapporti dwar individwu jew individwi li qed ikunu l-Belt, biswit il-funtana tat-Tritoni liebsin taparsi ta’ Rumani ikellmu n-nies. Zammejt milli nikkummenta minhabba li kont u sa certu punt ghadni ma nafx id-dettalji kollha dwar dak li qed jaghmlu.
Jien inhobb naghti l-beneficcju tad-dubju lil dak li jkun bit-tama li jitranga kif ukoll biex nigbor kemm nista informazzjoni qabel niehu decizjoni fuq il-kaz. Kelli t-tama li forsi kienu qed jirreklamaw xi produzzjoni teatrali jew inkella xi esebizzjoni temporanja li b’xi mod forsi tirrelata mal-istorja Maltija Rumana. Izda kull ma jmur, qed jidher li m’huwiex il-kaz.
Bhala President tal-grupp Legio X Fretensis – Malta, fid-dmir li nghid li l-ewwel nett dak l-ilbies missu qatt ma nhiet (ahseb u ara kemm ghandu jintlibes) ghax bl-ebda mod ma jirrapprezenta l-ilbies militari Ruman. B’responsabbilta’ nghid li jekk hemm xi entita’ wara dak li qed jaghmlu dawn l-individwi, ikun ahjar jekk ikellmu lilna biex nirreferuhom ghal ilbies kif suppost.
Barra minn hekk, jekk inhu l-kaz (kif l-evidenza s’issa qed tindika) illi dawn l-individwi qed imorru fuq in-nies bl-iskop ta’ qligh monetarju bl-iskuza ta’ ritratt, nikkundanna bla rizervi din l-imgieba. M’inix ser niddetta x’ghandhom jaghmlu l-awtoritajiet ta’ dan il-pajjiz – dik hija responsabbilta’ u kompetenza taghhom. Izda minn naha tieghi u fil-vesti ta’ President tal-UNIKU grupp storiku Ruman f’Malta, nappella sabiex dawn l-individwi jirregolarizzaw ruhom kemm dwar din l-imgieba kif ukoll dwar ir-rapprezentazzjoni tal-istorja.
Ahna ma nilbsux kostumi. Ma nilbsux biex indahhku nies. Ma nilbsux biex niffastidjaw nies. Ma nilbsux biex naghmlu qliegh personali… u ma nilbsux imbarazz.
Nilbsu lbies, armi u armaturi reali – kopji fidili lejn is-sejbiet storici. Nilbsu biex naghtu l-hajja lill-istorja. Nilbsu biex nesperjenzaw l-istess kundizzjonijiet li l-ilbies ta’ elfejn sena ilu kien jissuggetta lil kull min libes l-istess affarijiet. Fuq kollox, nilbsu biex nitghallmu u biex nedukaw lill-pubbliku dwar l-istorja Rumana u iva, ta’ pajjizna wkoll li tahthom qatta l-itwal hakma fl-istorja tieghu. Ghalhekk ma nitfaccawx fil-Gimgha l-Kbira biss.
Mill-gdid nappella sabiex tixtarru u tgharblu l-istorja vera u awtentika minn semplici karnivalata (bla ma nonqos mir-rispett lejn id-dilettanti tal-Karnival, ghax l-espressjoni ggib hekk).
Keith Cauchi President – Legio X Fretensis – Malta
The Cons's Nook: www.ivanmconsiglio.com 
From Heritage to Hustle: Malta Should Avoid the Colosseum‑Style Street Gimmicks
Am seeing this issue shared here on Maltese timelines, and I think it deserves a calm but honest word. Malta has a rich Roman heritage and several dedicated groups who work hard to present it accurately, respectfully, and in a way that genuinely educates the public.
That’s why it would be a real pity if things start drifting into the kind of street‑corner gimmicks you find around the Colosseum in Rome, where costumed individuals hassle tourists for cash in exchange for a photo.
We don’t need that here. Malta is small enough that once something starts, it becomes “normal” very quickly. Better to address it now, before it turns into a free‑for‑all that cheapens both the history and the public spaces we all share.
There’s a big difference between proper historical re‑enactment and someone throwing on a random “Roman” outfit to make a quick euro.
One is cultural work; the other is opportunism. And if people are approaching passers‑by for money under the guise of “Roman soldiers”, then it’s fair for those who actually safeguard this heritage to speak up.
This isn’t about attacking anyone. It’s simply about keeping standards, protecting authenticity, and avoiding the slippery slope that other countries have already experienced.
Malta deserves better than turning Triton Square into a carnival sideshow.
Nip it in the bud now, before it becomes another headache we all complain about later.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HuWjJmNEB/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Tul dawn l-ahhar gimghat, wasluli diversi rapporti dwar individwu jew individwi li qed ikunu l-Belt, biswit il-funtana tat-Tritoni liebsin taparsi ta’ Rumani ikellmu n-nies. Zammejt milli nikkummenta minhabba li kont u sa certu punt ghadni ma nafx id-dettalji kollha dwar dak li qed jaghmlu.
Jien inhobb naghti l-beneficcju tad-dubju lil dak li jkun bit-tama li jitranga kif ukoll biex nigbor kemm nista informazzjoni qabel niehu decizjoni fuq il-kaz. Kelli t-tama li forsi kienu qed jirreklamaw xi produzzjoni teatrali jew inkella xi esebizzjoni temporanja li b’xi mod forsi tirrelata mal-istorja Maltija Rumana. Izda kull ma jmur, qed jidher li m’huwiex il-kaz.
Bhala President tal-grupp Legio X Fretensis – Malta, fid-dmir li nghid li l-ewwel nett dak l-ilbies missu qatt ma nhiet (ahseb u ara kemm ghandu jintlibes) ghax bl-ebda mod ma jirrapprezenta l-ilbies militari Ruman. B’responsabbilta’ nghid li jekk hemm xi entita’ wara dak li qed jaghmlu dawn l-individwi, ikun ahjar jekk ikellmu lilna biex nirreferuhom ghal ilbies kif suppost.
Barra minn hekk, jekk inhu l-kaz (kif l-evidenza s’issa qed tindika) illi dawn l-individwi qed imorru fuq in-nies bl-iskop ta’ qligh monetarju bl-iskuza ta’ ritratt, nikkundanna bla rizervi din l-imgieba. M’inix ser niddetta x’ghandhom jaghmlu l-awtoritajiet ta’ dan il-pajjiz – dik hija responsabbilta’ u kompetenza taghhom. Izda minn naha tieghi u fil-vesti ta’ President tal-UNIKU grupp storiku Ruman f’Malta, nappella sabiex dawn l-individwi jirregolarizzaw ruhom kemm dwar din l-imgieba kif ukoll dwar ir-rapprezentazzjoni tal-istorja.
Ahna ma nilbsux kostumi. Ma nilbsux biex indahhku nies. Ma nilbsux biex niffastidjaw nies. Ma nilbsux biex naghmlu qliegh personali… u ma nilbsux imbarazz.
Nilbsu lbies, armi u armaturi reali – kopji fidili lejn is-sejbiet storici. Nilbsu biex naghtu l-hajja lill-istorja. Nilbsu biex nesperjenzaw l-istess kundizzjonijiet li l-ilbies ta’ elfejn sena ilu kien jissuggetta lil kull min libes l-istess affarijiet. Fuq kollox, nilbsu biex nitghallmu u biex nedukaw lill-pubbliku dwar l-istorja Rumana u iva, ta’ pajjizna wkoll li tahthom qatta l-itwal hakma fl-istorja tieghu. Ghalhekk ma nitfaccawx fil-Gimgha l-Kbira biss.
Mill-gdid nappella sabiex tixtarru u tgharblu l-istorja vera u awtentika minn semplici karnivalata (bla ma nonqos mir-rispett lejn id-dilettanti tal-Karnival, ghax l-espressjoni ggib hekk).
Keith Cauchi
President – Legio X Fretensis – Malta
#RomanHistory #MaltaHistory #LegioXFretensis #AuthenticReenactment #HistoricalAccuracy #CulturalHeritage #PublicSpaceStandards #RespectOurHeritage #MaltaCulture #RomanMalta #HeritageMatters #ProtectOurSpaces #KeepMaltaAuthentic #NoToStreetGimmicks #NotAnotherColosseum #NipItInTheBud #TritonSquare #VallettaLife #MaltaCommunity #CivicStandards #CulturalRespect #HistoryNotCarnival #ReenactmentNotCostume #MaltaPride #PreserveOurIdentity #QualityNotGimmicks #MaltaVoices #LocalCommentary #PublicBehaviour #CulturalResponsibility #MaltaDiscussion #RomanReenactment #HeritageProtection #AuthenticityMatters #MaltaIssues #CommunityStandards #RespectTheCraft #HistoricalReenactors #MaltaDebate #KeepStandardsHigh #NoHassleTourism #MaltaPublicSpaces #CulturalIntegrity #MaltaRomanEra #VallettaTalks #MaltaToday #ProtectOurCulture #MaltaOpinion
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