COOL - The Legend of Cumbo Tower and the Bride of Mosta

Introduction:

Click on the first green button below and predict what the legend is about.

Setting the scene

The legend is set in 1526.
This legend took place in Mosta in what is known as 'Torri Cumbo' (Cumbo Tower). This is a country house built in the shape of a tower, surrounded by a very big garden, on the outskirts of Mosta.
Giulio Cumbo and his family lived here.
He was a very respected member of the community and of the Governing Council of Malta.
The main characters are: Giulio Cumbo’s only daughter who was called Marjanna, a Turkish slave, and a handsome soldier who formed part of the 'Dejma'.

The Governing Council and the Jurats of the Universita'

Giulio Cumbo was one of four Jurats who formed part of the Maltese Governing Council (also known as l-Universita').
This Governing Council was set up in Malta at around the 14th century and existed until the 19th century.
This Council was the link between the governors of the island and the Maltese people. They dealt mostly with local affairs and grievances of the people.
The Council was made up of the Captain of the Rod and four Jurats.
Besides these main officials, there were others who attended the meetings and together they formed the 'Consiglio Generale' or the general assembly.
The members of the Council came from noble families and professional people like lawyers, judges, priests, merchants and artisans.
They were elected by the Maltese heads of families. The election took place every year and it was done by show of hands.
When the Knights of St. John came to Malta, the Consiglio Popolare continued to advise the governors of the island.

The 'Dejma'

The 'Dejma' was like a local ground force. At first it fell under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Malta.
This armed force was made up of local men.
The first 'Dejma' was that of Mdina, but later other armed forces were formed to protect the villages.
The 'Dejma' was needed to fight back the Barbary corsairs that used to land on the island during these times.
When the Knights of St. John came to Malta, they took over the management and organisation of the 'Dejma'.
Every healthy Maltese man between eighteen and sixty years had to form part of the 'Dejma'.
The captains and noble families had horses and the heads of the common families were armed with all sorts of weapons, like catapults, bows and arrows, lances, swords, daggers and later with pistols and muskets.

The Legend

Il-Leggenda Ta' l-Gharusa tal-Mosta, Klabb Kotba Maltin

Tasks

1. Click on the green button below (lead-in pictures) and predict what the legend is about.

2. Click on the green button below (Goconqr - Vocabulary Quiz). Do the quiz to learn some of the vocabulary in the legend.

3. Click on the green button below (The Legend) and put the cards in order so that you can read the story of this legend.

4. In groups predict how the legend ends.

5. Open the tasksheet in the green button (Sequencing) and put the sentences in the correct order. Find out if your predictions were correct.

6. Open the grammar task sheet from the green button and work out the exercise on past tense regular and irregular verbs.

Teacher's notes:

In this unit the trainees will:

1. learn about the organisation of government in Malta in the 14th century;

2. read a legend connected to Mosta;

3. predict how the legend ends;

4. learn new vocabulary in context;

5. learn the past simple form of some irregular verbs.