On September 25th Lions Club Sliema resumed with the cultural outing after the summer recess. 31 members and friends turned up for the visit to St. Paul’s Catacombs despite the inclement weather. The upgrade of the catacomb complex made the visit a safer place but also the new museum gives a good interpretation of the funeral process practiced by the Romans. The visit starts with an audio-visual show lasting about 20 minutes. Malta belonged to the Roman Civilization from 218 BC to around 535 AD. The museum panels depict the funeral procession which took place in honour of the dead person, making sure that the soul is given a respectful farewell to the next world. Both an inhumation and cremation burial was practice at the time. There are also artefacts in glass and pottery which were found in tombs at Rabat. From the museum we walked on to the Catacomb itself. On entering one can see a pair of Agape Tables around which the family partook of a symbolic meal in honour of the dead person about to be buried. This ceremony ended the office nine days of mourning.
These Agape Tables are of great archaeological and historical interest , as although there would have been several scattered around the Roman Empire, very few survive. From Pagan, Jewish and Christian symbols and graffiti found on pottery and on the walls it is evident that the burial site belonged to various religious denominations. Therefore there is no founded truth in the popular myth that Christians hid in these catacombs in times of persecution.
Lunch was held at Karrot & Co. We were served a delicious and generous meal. One could find no fault with the service and quality and quantity of food. It was difficult to leave the premises as we were all bounding and having a good time. We were pleased to welcome on the tour to the Catacombs Lion Mary Anne Abela (Chair person Lions Club Zone Malta) and her husband Lion Paul.
The tour was organised by Lion Bell Micallef and Lion Margaret Frendo. The sum of Euro 92.50 was collected in the form of participation donation towards the club. It is also to be noted (and encouraged) that Lions Chris Borg Cardona, Victor Borg Barthet and Victoria Muscat, all regular attendees of the tours, gave the donation although they could not attend the activity.
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