Luqa roundabout monument back to its former glory

Wally Vella-Zarb

Feb 9th, 19:04

More than the Colonna Mediterranea, one which has always intrigued me is further down the hill. It looks (to me) like a monument to a syringe. Does anyone here know what it represents?

James Dewar

Feb 9th, 12:19

Not at all attractive and inappropriately (if not dangerously ) located.

Alfred Falzon

Feb 8th, 21:34

Is it destined to become Malta's symbol?

There are rumours that "IT" has put Malta on the artistic/tourist map, say like d Eiffel Tower & the leaning Tower of Pisa!

Others opine that this grotesque phallic-like "Colonna Mediterranea" is but a figment of the fertile imagination of Malta's up-and-coming generation lost in an orgy of sensual pleasure!

Progressives & Liberals put together!

aaf

Elvin Muscat

Feb 8th, 21:05

The phallus or a phallic symbol for Romans meant an embodiment of generative power, there are many other symbols that look like a phallus, such as swords, knifes, steeples, monuments and even the neck tie which is a representation of the phallus.
So all those ridiculous people who stood around it to hide it from the pope, for your information the Vatican city one of the longest one in the square.

R. Zammit

Feb 8th, 18:10

X-rays, fragment analysis using microscopes... can we get the price of the restoration published? Probably another direct order that resulted in an insane bill for the tax payer.

Richard Farrugia

Feb 8th, 15:18

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! Phallic symbols are around the globe to show power rather than beauty. I see no beauty or art in this so said creation.

Peter Murray

Feb 8th, 15:05

And the cost to taxpayers for restoring this work of art (apologies to all similarly named works) to its former glory(if it ever was in such a former state?)

Franco Farrugia

Feb 8th, 14:50

Imagine, 144 comments on a silly 'news' item such as this! And then an article about IT in today's world received a couple of comments last week. What does this prove? Eh? Eh?
....
Exactly!

Alfred Falzon

Feb 8th, 13:34

The Luqa community must be delighted!

It's a second display, so far...!!

Why not remove this so-called work of art and erect it next to one of the main Parties' HQ?

Alfred A Falzon

joseph green

Feb 8th, 13:34

This is the last place that Joseph Muscat will visit in his election campain.

B. Borg

Feb 8th, 13:23

Drivers be Aware, next time you drive around this roundabout, don't let the plam trees distract you...

Adrian Barnes

Feb 8th, 12:49

THATS GREAT! IM HAPPY FOR Paul Vella Critien!! :D He is a great teacher too.

Joseph Grech Attard

Feb 8th, 12:49

It would be a good idea if it was moved to the entrance of the new Parliament buidling in Valletta so as to remind us that GonziPN has made a deal to use our taxes to pay a yearly rent to a new company for our Parliament to convene.

Joseph Grech Attard

Feb 8th, 12:49

It would be a good idea if it was moved to the entrance of the new Parliament buidling in Valletta so as to remind us that GonziPN has made a deal to use our taxes to pay a yearly rent to a new company for our Parliament to convene.

Louis Craus

Feb 8th, 12:48

Din bicca xoghol li kif qal l- iskultur ser taghmel unur lil Malta. Allura din missha saret quddiem Kastilja

Victor Pulis

Feb 8th, 12:39

Fragment analysis, x rays, microscopes... Are we talking about a contemporary ceramic piece or Michelangelo's Pieta here?! Come on, I have nothing against the sculpture and am not one of those who are scandalised by it but let's keep it in its proper perspective.

Mr Vincent Buttigieg

Feb 8th, 12:31

A work of art is exclusively the personal expression of the artist creating it.

If Maltese society finds this particular piece so offensive then please go ahead; interdict, excommunicate and completely ostracize the creator!!!!

And in the meantime we keep proclaiming our respect for tolerance, freedom of expression and encouragement of culture!!

Manuel Briffa

Feb 8th, 12:25

Futur fis-sod!

Ronnie Callus

Feb 8th, 12:17

Ergu ghattuh ghax jiehu rih. Imbad illum !!!!!!!!!

lawrence spiteri

Feb 8th, 12:05

I have one question to ask. If this so-called monument (another state of the art?) had been erected (not punning here) during a PL legislation what would have been the reaction of the Church? And the PN? All hell would have broken loose for sure

j camilleri

Feb 8th, 12:01

Yippee :)

Charles DeMicoli

Feb 8th, 11:45

For the sake of equality, which roundabout will get the female equivalent?

Freddie Micallef

Feb 8th, 11:37

Dak il monument imissu qieghed fid dahla tal qorti. lol

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Feb 8th, 11:36

It's good to see it go up again.

D Portelli

Feb 8th, 11:34

I never saw anything wrong with it, t's art and we should stop there. What's so immoral or of sin to look at?

Mr C Camilleri

Feb 8th, 11:23

A sausage in the middle of a roundabout. My opinion ... disgusting piece of art. Wasted money.

Victor Gelfo

Feb 8th, 11:21

The glory of the phallus. The symbol of all medittereanian civilizations.

John Grima

Feb 8th, 11:14

I guess the headline could also be' Luqa monument re-erected'

Pippo de Marco

Feb 8th, 11:07

It seems to me that its only men who complain about this monument, phallus, call it what you will.

Now I wonder why that is ? - feelings of inadequacy, perhaps ?

Chris Finch

Feb 8th, 10:58

Looking at some of the comments, the taliban is taking hold in Malta.

What's next? restricting what women can wear and who they speak to? Banning music? Education?

Get serious, this is Europe in 2013, not 1613.

Mr Tony Gatt

Feb 8th, 10:57

I'm just wondering how the reporter kept a straight face.

R Azzopardi

Feb 8th, 10:52

Kolonna Mediterranja ...
a coloured work of art in ceramics. So what's the big deal ??
Beauty is in the eys of the beholder, so each individual has his/her own interpretation and I for one, like it.

R Mallia

Feb 8th, 10:52

Please put bigger trees there.

V. Cauchi

Feb 8th, 10:52

This is not the end of the story. Being exposed as it is to all sorts of natural elements, Nature, both in its climatic wrath and in its irate human expression (certainly also a part of Nature), will definitely keep on battering the sculpture.

R. Gauci

Feb 8th, 10:49

Dan mhux xi lucky charm tal-PN hux?? Ghalhekk issewwa malajr qabel l-elezzjoni? :)

Chris Finch

Feb 8th, 10:46

Maybe all those opposed to it are feeling a little envious.

Personally I am happy that this exciting erection is standing proud amongst the well groomed bushes close to Malta's entrance for many a happy tourist.

Dave Alan Caruana

Feb 8th, 10:42

It was nicer with the bucket on top ..

Jean-Michel Azzopardi

Feb 8th, 10:39

"Former Glory" haha

pat muscat

Feb 8th, 10:18

................and they say size does not matter!

Norman E Grech

Feb 8th, 10:14

Maestro D'arte? or Maestro d' insulti?

Gorg Sciberras

Feb 8th, 10:04

The sculpture does not have a "head" so it could not have been left "headless".

Leonard Cole

Feb 8th, 10:03

Honestly we need to make a fuss about everything on this ROCK ... Monument right so what ?? Everybody has the right to identify this so called works of art as he would like too ...

Ivan Attard

Feb 8th, 10:01

Maestro d'Arte ...... LOL I loved that!

Clifford Chetcuti

Feb 8th, 09:56

Did you really mean "former glory" or was it "morning glory"?

Lawrence Fenech

Feb 8th, 09:51

I personally thing that Critien should shove it........................imissu jisthi min hareg il-permess ghalieh.

rosanna ellul

Feb 8th, 09:47

This is a monument to baal that is a CURSE upon this Island, The word 'obelisk' literally means 'Baal's shaft' or Baal's organ of reproduction' (Page 341 Masonic and occult symbols illustrated. Dr. Cathy Burns) http://www.christian-restoration.com/fmasonry/obelisks.htm ) As for me and my house hold we shall serve YHVH.....Joshua 24:15

Joseph Bugeja

Feb 8th, 09:44

Veru Gonzi ser jaqta z-Zagarella ?????????????

Godfrey Camilleri

Feb 8th, 09:38

Really pathetic and waste of money; purely disgusting.

Toni Cardona

Feb 8th, 09:33

What a lot of fuss! We have been making and eating our traditional Maltese cheesecake, made with flaky pastry, for yonks. Has anyone complained? Do they sell flaky pastry 'pastizzi' in Ħal-Luqa or are they also banned?

Peter Xuereb

Feb 8th, 09:30

A monument well endowed with meaning and impact. It should be kept up, if not erected all around Malta. Just for the sake of getting one over the holier-than-thou part of the populace.

Mr Mark Borh

Feb 8th, 09:30

This monument was hidden with advertising when the pope came to Malta, it was also vandalized, it strongly resembles the obvious and everyone makes fun of it. If it's such a pain to have around, why is it still there?

Yosef Deguara

Feb 8th, 09:17

The 'former glory' has not been restored because the 'head' is not a faithful copy of the original

Joseph Galea

Feb 8th, 09:12

lol thank you

Pippo de Marco

Feb 8th, 09:12

It could be my eyes , but is the 'head' a different shape and colour than it was before ?

V. Cauchi

Feb 8th, 09:10

There is absolutely no proof that the monument was subjected to a vandal attack rather than force majeure. As evidenced in the second Bisazza Street incident when a head fell off one of the figures, local climatic conditions (wind, heat, cold) make of ceramics a different stuff to be dealt with in open air than in a protected environment.

C Attard

Feb 8th, 09:06

Just in time for a new government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alexander Montebello

Feb 8th, 09:03

Hopefully a CCTV camera will also be installed to deter future acts of vandalism!

Joe Cordina

Feb 8th, 08:53

Critien said the palms distract the drivers, wow! how about the 'thing; itself? does it not distract drovers?

M Busuttil

Feb 8th, 08:52

Umbad tas-south noqghodu ngergru ghax minsijin mill-gvern. Grazzi Gonzi li ergajt irrangajtilna l-monument to its former glory again ehhh!! Vera kuntenti issa ghandna kollox sod ergajna :-)

j brincat

Feb 8th, 08:52

Hope it's not vandalised again!

Shame on the perpetrators!

jb

Victor Laiviera

Feb 8th, 08:47

Just in time to give a certain party which has been in power for too long its due .....

Yosef Deguara

Feb 8th, 08:47

I wonder why the artist did not replicate an identical 'Head' to the original decapitated one?

Ms Maria Vella

Feb 8th, 08:45

What a waste of money

Alfred Falzon

Feb 8th, 08:44

The people's money down the drain!

"Art" in poor taste!

Alfred A Falzon

An Cachia

Feb 8th, 08:42

These sort of sculptures are found around the world, some in very ancient art. It is a symbol of life, fertility, continuity, and achievement. If we like it or not, we depend on these organs to continue our species. There is nothing rude, dirty, or sordid about it. There is nothing to be ashamed of either, so please people grow up. There is nothing offensive about it unlike some comments over here

J Farrugia

Feb 8th, 08:41

A true representation of our politicians.

Anton Scerri Borg

Feb 8th, 08:39

Is-sigar ser jitnehhew ghax ta' inkonvenjent ghax-xufiera.Nispera li issa li ser ikun jidher fil-glorja kollha tieghu dan il-monument ma jibdiex jikkawza hafna incidenti bejn xufiera femminili!!!!!!!!!!!

Giocchino Attard

Feb 8th, 08:37

It looks bit bigger than the original.

Giocchino Attard

Feb 8th, 08:36

Everyone making fun of us in Malta in Brussels and in Britian ha ha.

Darren Bugeja

Feb 8th, 08:33

Dan monument li hallina GonziPN bhalha turija ta kemm wehhilulna.

Karl Consiglio

Feb 8th, 08:32

Morning glory

Darren Bugeja

Feb 8th, 08:31

To Adrian Agius

This is a main road and the mayor can do nothing.

J Cauchi

Feb 8th, 08:30

Is this the moument we should be proud of when
So many people especially tourist

Pass to go to the Airport. It would made more sense
If they made a monument that symbolies our heritage and something that makes a roundabout not a JOKE.

adrian agius

Feb 8th, 08:28

'Maestro D'Arte' !!!!!!

Mark. Galea

Feb 8th, 08:26

din ser tkun l-arma l-gdida tal-pajjiz wara id-9 ta Marzu ...

Ronnie Callus

Feb 8th, 08:21

Lestewilu fl-ahhar l-operazzjoni ! Malajr qabzuh il-waiting list !!!!!!

paul falzon

Feb 8th, 08:18

The meaning of this symbol for our ancestors represented the fertility and cultural implications, and thus is no way this monument is pornography related or shameful as some of the idiotic comments hereunder make it deem. !! Grow up !!

J Chircop

Feb 8th, 08:17

Futur fis sod! :)

adrian agius

Feb 8th, 08:13

what has the mayor of Luqa got to say about all this?? Does he realise that nearly ALL of the population hates this 'monument'!! Has he got the power to remove it???

Patrick Jansen

Feb 8th, 08:05

Good to see it has been restored. To people who get offended I would say, how close minded can you be to get offended. Every man has one!

Jay Oatmon

Feb 8th, 08:04

I still do not see why any shape offends anyone - even a shape similar to a human in some way?

What can be objectionable to the human form, which many believe was created by God, and we all come into this world naked anyway?
We need to get over this false modesty and accept the realities of life - we exist because of sex and procreation.

W. Cassar

Feb 8th, 08:00

A truly welcoming sight ! :)

Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO

Feb 8th, 07:59

Full glory I would say. We are a nation full of vigour.

A Farrugia

Feb 8th, 07:57

The monument has been resorted to its former glory........ at the appropriate time I say !!!! heheheh Election Time !

Charles Micallef

Feb 8th, 07:51

One man's folly which offended the nation, the Pope and all other visitors to Malta and the sculptor who did this offensive deed is still insisting that he created a work of art, pls Mr Vella Cretien, stop insulting our taste for good art.

victor pullicino

Feb 8th, 07:48

looks more like a durx commercial......

Victor Rodenas

Feb 8th, 07:34

Good,it has been erected again.

Andrew Abela

Feb 8th, 07:27

And what if it has to do with the phallic symbol? The Greeks used to use this symbol as a way of praising the gods in their festivals. The Romans as well had a symbol which was directed to the god Pan and Bacchus. In the Renaissance up to the Baroque the phallus is still a central image becoming even more an individual element. But politically and religiously this metaphysical element was removed.

Mr charles azzopardi

Feb 8th, 07:25

Another successful project of GonziPn

Charles Micallef

Feb 8th, 07:21

Colonna Mediterrea, or better still one man's folly which offended the Nation and visitors alike. and which had to be hidden during the Papal visit...why?