# Malta Under Rome From St Pauls Shipwreck to the Domvs Romana

An episode of [The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1895465859), 30 Jul 2026, 8:07.

Audio: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/the-story-of-malta/episode-0185.mp3

Long before the Knights of St. John or the British Empire, Malta was a prized possession of the Roman Republic and Empire. This episode delves into the island's transformation after Rome seized it from Carthage in 218 BC during the Second Punic War. We explore how Malta became a thriving municipium with a Latin-speaking elite, the impact of St. Paul's shipwreck in 60 AD—a pivotal moment that embedded Christianity deep in Maltese identity—and the archaeological treasures that survive, including the exquisite Domvs Romana in Mdina with its Hellenistic mosaics. Lucas and Luna also discuss the Roman villa at Żejtun, the island's role as a grain supplier and naval base, and the gradual shift from Punic to Roman culture. They touch on how the Maltese language retains its Semitic core despite centuries of Latin influence. This episode offers a fresh look at a period often overshadowed by the Knights, revealing the foundations of modern Malta in Roman citizenship, law, and religion. The conversation weaves through history, archaeology, and legend, ending with a reflection on how history layers itself in unexpected ways. #Malta #RomanMalta #StPaulShipwreck #DomvsRomana #Mdina #RomanHistory #Archaeology #Mosaics #SecondPunicWar #Carthage #Christianity #MalteseHistory #ActsOfTheApostles #FexingoHistory #AncientHistory #Mediterranean #HistoryPodcast #MaltaPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

## Transcript

Lucas: We've covered a lot of Malta's layers—Phoenician merchants, Arab conquest, the Knights, even the plague. But there's one era that often gets squeezed out: the Roman period. It lasted nearly seven hundred years, from 218 BC to about the 5th century AD, and it left more than just ruins.
Luna: Wait—I remember you mentioning the Phoenicians, but when did Rome actually take over?
Lucas: Right at the end of the First Punic War, actually. But it was really during the Second Punic War, in 218 BC, that Rome formally annexed Malta from Carthage. The island had been a Carthaginian base, and the Roman general Tiberius Sempronius Longus grabbed it as a strategic outpost. From then on, Malta became part of the Roman province of Sicily.
Luna: So it was essentially a naval station?
Lucas: Partly, yes. The Grand Harbour was useful for controlling sea lanes. But over time, Malta became more than a garrison. Under the Roman Republic, it was granted the status of a municipium—meaning it had its own local government and Roman citizenship for its elite. The main town, Melite—modern Mdina—was entirely refashioned with temples, a forum, and elaborate houses.
Luna: Municipium—that's a big deal. So they were self-governing?
Lucas: Exactly. And they adopted Roman customs. Latin replaced Punic as the official language, though the everyday people probably still spoke a form of Punic for centuries. But the real headline of Roman Malta—at least for later Christian tradition—is the shipwreck of Saint Paul in 60 AD. You know the story from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 27 and 28?
Luna: I've heard of it, but I never connected it to Malta specifically. Tell me.
Lucas: Paul was being taken to Rome for trial. A storm drove their ship off course, and they wrecked on what the text calls 'Melita'—almost certainly Malta, near the modern St. Paul's Bay. According to Acts, the locals were 'barbarous'—meaning they spoke a non-Greek language—but they showed extraordinary kindness, building a fire for the cold, wet survivors.
Luna: And then the viper incident?
Lucas: Right. Paul gathers brushwood for the fire, and a viper latches onto his hand. The locals think he's a murderer being punished by justice—the goddess Dike—but when he shakes it off and suffers no harm, they decide he's a god. Then Paul heals the father of the chief official, Publius, who had dysentery, and word spreads. By the time he leaves three months later, he's likely left a Christian community behind.
Luna: So that's how Christianity arrived in Malta—through a shipwreck.
Lucas: Exactly. And the tradition is so strong that the catacombs of Malta—like those at Rabat—are among the oldest Christian burial sites outside Rome. But let's not forget the material side. One of the best-preserved Roman houses in the Mediterranean is right here: the Domvs Romana, just outside Mdina.
Luna: I think I've seen pictures of its mosaic floors—they're stunning.
Lucas: They're extraordinary. The Domvs Romana was discovered in 1881, and it dates to the 1st century BC. The central courtyard is peristyle, and the main reception room has a mosaic depicting the mythical death of Actaeon—he's being torn apart by his own hounds. It's a scene from Ovid, which shows how deeply Romanised the elite were. But there's also a villa at Żejtun that had elaborate bath complexes and olive presses.
Luna: So Malta was fully Romanised—but the language still turned out Semitic. How does that work?
Lucas: That's the puzzle. Latin was the language of administration and the elite, but the common people—especially in the countryside—kept speaking their Punic dialect. When the Arabs arrived in 870 AD, that Punic substrate mixed with Arabic to form what we now call Maltese. So the Roman period didn't erase the Punic base; it just added a Latin layer that mostly faded after the empire fell.
Luna: Fascinating. So what ended the Roman period in Malta?
Lucas: The gradual decline of the Western Roman Empire. By the 5th century, the Vandals were raiding the Mediterranean, and then the Byzantines took over in 535 AD. But the Roman legacy in Malta is still visible—in the street grid of Mdina, in the cisterns, in the names of some towns. For instance, 'Rabat' comes from the Arabic 'ribat'—but its original Roman name was nothing like that.
Luna: It's amazing how each conqueror left a layer.
Lucas: That's what makes Malta so special. And speaking of layers—if you've been coming with us through these conversations about Mediterranean islands and their hidden pasts, you probably appreciate just how much effort goes into digging through those layers. Every episode requires reading primary sources, checking archaeological reports, and making sure we get things right.
Luna: Absolutely. It's a labour of love—and it's ad-free because of listener support.
Lucas: Right. If you find value in these conversations, you can help keep the show going by visiting buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a simple way to say 'keep digging.' No pressure, just know that it makes a difference.
Luna: Totally. And now, back to the Romans—what about the harbour? Was there a major Roman fleet stationed here?
Lucas: Not a permanent fleet, but Malta served as a way station for Roman grain ships. The island produced its own wheat and olive oil, which were exported to Rome. We know from amphorae found in the Grand Harbour that trade was brisk. And the Roman general Verres—the corrupt governor Cicero prosecuted—actually extorted grain from Malta. So the island was definitely part of the imperial economy.
Luna: Were there any revolts or resistance?
Lucas: None recorded. Malta seems to have been a quiet, loyal province. One reason might be that the Romans respected local cults. For example, the temple of Astarte at Tas-Silġ—which the Phoenicians built—was rededicated to Juno, but the rituals continued. So there was continuity. Even the Roman senator Publius, who hosted Paul, is said to have become the first bishop of Malta.
Luna: So the same family that welcomed Paul became the first Christian leaders.
Lucas: According to tradition. And his house supposedly became the site of the first church. So the Roman period gave Malta not just roads and aqueducts, but a Christian identity that would survive Byzantine, Arab, and Norman rule. When you walk the old streets of Mdina today, you're walking a Roman grid—underneath the medieval and Baroque facades.
Luna: I'd love to see the Domvs Romana in person someday.
Lucas: It's worth the trip. The mosaic floors are among the finest in the Mediterranean, and the museum has artifacts from everyday Roman life—jewellery, coins, pottery. It's a quiet spot, not as crowded as the rest of Mdina. And it reminds us that Malta was never just a fortress of the Knights—it was a Roman home, a trading post, and a place where an apostle's shipwreck changed the course of an island.
Luna: I never thought of Malta that way. Thanks for connecting those dots.
Lucas: That's the beauty of history—every invasion, every shipwreck, every administration leaves a thread. And when you pull one, you find a whole tapestry. Next time, we might look at the Arab period—which is where the language really takes shape—but for now, let the Romans have their moment.
Luna: I'll never look at a Maltese stone wall the same way again.
Lucas: Good. That's the goal.

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