Colosseum mistake, this, eternal city!

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. But starting December 8, do ensure that you don’t do as the ancient Romans did, since the city has issued a decree — a very ancient Roman way of announcing things, that — outlawing people in centurion costumes. For most of us, taking photos with these dudes in leather skirts and plastic armour, complete with plumed helmet and wooden sword, has been the closest way we can get in touch with our inner Asterix and Gladiator fan. It turns out that along with cyclerickshaw-walas and ticket touts in Rome, these fake legionaries showcase “inappropriate, insistent and sometimes aggressive” behaviour. We can’t understand why that’ll upset anyone. After all, every tout, guide and self-styled ‘India expert’ pouncing on a tourist here in India would be out on the streets — and not in aproductive way — if such things started bothering us.

These Men in Skirts are living anachronisms who play a subliminal role to remind tourists and, indeed, locals of the power that was once…no, not Silvio Berlusconi’s bunga bunga parties but, the Roman Empire. Rome without its fake centurions is like a world bereft of imitation Guccis and Salvatore Ferragamos. Or pizzas without their toppings oozing cheese or salad sans olive oil. In the name of Caesar salad, let them earn their salarium!