the maltese islands & the sea

EDIT

ED BY T

IMM

Y G

AM

BIN

As an archipelago in the center of the Mediterranean the sea has shaped many aspects of Malta’s culture, traditions, economy and demography. The collection of essays contained in this volume reflect the diverse histories and threads that have come together through time to make Malta the island nation that it is today. Divided into two main sections – the first deals with historic narratives ranging from antiquity to modern period whereas the second part covers various facets of Malta’s maritime heritage.

With revealing text and numerous illustrations this edited volume can certainly be considered as the standard work on Malta’s maritime history and heritage. It is as valuable for students as it is for those who have a passion for the sea and all things maritime.

Timmy Gambin is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta

EDITED BYTIMMY GAMBIN

TIMMY GAMBIN has been Senior Lecturer in Maritime Archaeology in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, since 2012. He graduated in History from this University and went on to attain his Masters in Maritime Archaeology and History from the University of Bristol where he also got his doctorate in Maritime Archaeology. Dr Gambin has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects. These include the PaleoMed Project with the CNRS (Aix en Provence) which is aimed at the reconstruction of ancient coastal landscapes and environments of the Maltese Islands. The Ancient Cisterns Project with CalPoly and Harvey Mudd Colleges (USA) explores underground water management systems through the use of small remote operated vehicles armed with a variety of sensors. He has also co-directed numerous offshore underwater surveys in various parts of the Mediterranean including Spain, Italy and Croatia. Currently, he is working on the exploration and study of the Phoenician shipwreck discovered off Gozo.

The Maltese Islands

theSea

TH

E MA

LTESE ISL

AN

DS &

TH

E SEA

CONTENTS & CONTRIBUTORS

The Maltese Islands and the Sea in Antiquity

Timmy Gambin

Maritime activity between Malta, Sicily

and North Africa in the Late Middle Ages

Mark Aloisio

Motley lots on liminal islands of an Order

Frank Theuma

Riding the crest of the wave: An overview

of the maritime history of Malta in the

nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Carmel Vassallo

The charting of Maltese waters

Albert Ganado

Ship graffiti on Maltese churches:

A photographic essay of sacred maritime

iconography

Timmy Gambin

Maltese traditional wooden boats

Charles Pulè

A history of the fishing industry in Malta

Stanley Farrugia Randon

Evolution of fishing methods


Some folkloristic aspects of the sea

Guido Lanfranco6 Strait Street, Valletta, MaltaTel: +356 2149 7046 Fax: +356 2149 6904www.midseabooks.com

ISBN 978-99932-7-551-0

9 789993 275510


ASSISTED BY

ANTHONY BURGESS

The Maltese Islands

theSea

Published by Midsea Books Ltd.6 Strait Street, Valletta, Malta

Tel: +356 2149 7046 Fax: +356 2149 6904www.midseabooks.com

Copyright © Literary, Timmy Gambin, the authors 2015Copyright © Editorial, Midsea Books Ltd 2015

No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise,

without the previous written permission of the author.

First published in 2015

Produced by Mizzi Design and Graphic Services LtdPrinted in Malta

ISBN: 978-99932-7-551-0

The Maltese Islands and the Sea in Antiquity Timmy Gambin 1

Maritime activity between Malta, Sicilyand North Africa in the Late Middle Ages Mark Aloisio 21

Motley lots on liminal islands of an Order Frank Theuma 31

Riding the crest of the waveAn overview of the maritime history of Malta in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries Carmel Vassallo 67

The charting of Maltese waters Albert Ganado 115

Ship graffiti on Maltese churches: A photographic essay of sacred maritime iconography Timmy Gambin 129

Maltese traditional wooden boats Charles Pulè 159

Contents

A history of the fishing industry in Malta Stanley Farrugia Randon 173

Evolution of fishing methods Stanley Farrugia Randon 187

Some folkloristic aspects of the sea Guido Lanfranco 197

Bibliography 221

Index 227

v

THE MALTESE ISLANDS AND THE SEA IN ANTIQUITY

THE ONE INESCAPABLE FACT OF LIVING ON AN ISLAND is that islanders are surrounded by sea. Whether one has direct interaction with the sea or not there is no escaping its presence in everyday island life. Over ninety percent of all goods that we consume on a daily basis have, at some point or other, travelled across some stretch of sea or other. In Malta and Gozo, people use the sea mostly for travel, various forms of recreation, fish farming, salt production and of course shipping. The vast majority of the islands’ potable water comes from the sea and is produced by reverse osmosis.

Nonetheless, given the synergy that exists between the Maltese islands, their people and the sea there has been little in the study of Maltese history and archaeology that is specifically dedicated to the sea. It is only relatively recently that some scholars have produced and published important works that help shed light on such an important facet of Malta’s past. In its own little way, this volume may be considered as another contribution that seeks to redress this imbalance.

The production of this book has been a long time coming. Conceptualised approximately ten years ago it has taken much patience, perseverance and belief to keep this project and see it through. Those involved are fully aware of the various difficulties encountered along the way. However, despite some very real adversities here it is – a comprehensive volume covering numerous aspects of Malta’s maritime past.

If it was pertinent to publish such a book ten years ago it is, I believe, just as important today. In fact, one may argue even more so. This

Introduction

TIMMY GAMBIN

vi

THE MALTESE ISLANDS AND THE SEA

because elements of Malta’s maritime traditions are fast-disappearing. Boatbuilding techniques, traditional fishing methods and other strands of intangible maritime heritage are being washed away before our very own eyes by the technological tsunami that is the digital age.

This volume is divided in two sections. Four historical essays in Part I cover the maritime history of the Maltese Islands from the ancient period to the British era. Rather than penning typical historical narratives, authors chose less traditional, but no less informative, styles. Interactions, between humans and maritime landscapes, social interactions and perceptions are but some of the themes tackled in the text. Although set in chronological order, these essays may be read individually or in sequence – depending on how the reader chooses to utilise this publication.

Part II of the volume is dedicated to maritime heritage. Essays contained in this section cover different aspects of Malta’s maritime tradition – some hardly-known as well others which are presently considered as popular tradition. This distinction however does not impinge on their validity in any form or manner. All chapters in this section provide extremely valuable contributions to the maritime cultural heritage of Malta and Gozo – both that which is tangible and that which is not.

This section of the book is, out of necessity, very well illustrated. One will also note that Part II does not have in text references of footnotes. This editorial choice was made to facilitate interaction between text and images. However, a ‘further-reading’ section at the end of every chapter points the reader to literature and sources used by the author as well as other publications that may be of interest to the reader.

vii

FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL contributors to this volume. The collective effort of these individuals has not only made this whole enterprise a reality but they have also shown infinite patience during the overly long gestation period. Thank you and apologies to you all. I would also like to thank Tony Burgess, who assisted me beyond the call of duty with the editing of this book. Of equal importance to this undertaking has been the publisher Joseph Mizzi, of Midsea Books. His enthusiasm and support were crucial elements to getting all of us over the line. His team also deserve a special mention – John, Edwin and Joseph’s sister Annamaria all showed equal amounts of patience and support. The book’s main photographer, Joe Borg, as usual surpassed himself in the quality of imagery produced. Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife Belinda and my sons Jamie and Taran, who continue having to put up with me – you mean the world to me.

Acknowledgements

An early twentieth century photo of the Buġibba temple with the decorated block showing the fish relief still in situ

221


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A mid-nineteenth century lithograph of a shell-fish vendor

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Aboukir Bay, 94, 124Abu Omar Othman, 28Agnese, Battista, 116-117Agrigento…see GirgentiAlboran, 33Alexandria, 11, 15, 76Alfonso V, 27-28Algeria, 21, 25, 78al-Idrisi, Muhammad, 22Allezard, Jean Joseph, 123-124Amateur Swimming Association…see Aquatic Sports

AssociationAmbrosius, 129amphorae, 9, 12Aquatic Sports Association, 100Aragon, 22, 23, 27-28, 174Arcano del Mare, 44, 46-47, 118Assumption of the Virgin chapel (Birkirkara), 136-137Assumption of the Virgin chapel (Żebbuġ, Malta),

144-145Astarte, temple of, 4, 11Attard, 130Australia, 73, 81, 98bagħal ta’ Gig, 161, 171bagħal ta’ frejgatina, 161, 170-171Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq church, 215Baħrija, 174Bajada, Tony, 98Ball, Sir Alexander, 176Balzan chapel, 133bandi, 174-175Barcelona Convention, 185barklori, 84, 202Barttelot, Rear Admiral, 92Basque Country, 100

Index

Bellin, Jacques Nicolas, 120-122Bidnija, 8, 16Birgu (Vittoriosa), 28, 51, 130, 197, 202, 204, 209, 211 churches, 51Birkirkara, 213, churches, 55-56, 133, 136-137, 209Birżebbuġa, 8, 99, 216Bizerte, 78Black Sea, 73boating, 100-102Bohemond IV, 27Bonham-Carter, Charles (Governor of Malta), 92Borg, Antonio, 45, 122Borg, John Martin, 106Borg in-Nadur, 174Bormla (Cospicua) 99, 130, 133, 197, 202, 209BP Tanker Company Ltd, 78Briarly, Alexander, 124brigantine, 23, 35, 40-41, 55, 131Bugeja, Anna, 210Bugibba, 174Buondelmonti, Cristoforo, 116Burdon, T.W., 180-181Burmarrad, 8, 16, 217Byblos, 4Byzantine, 15, 21Cadiz, 98Cagliari, 22-23Cali, Giuseppe, 105, 201, 214Camilleri, Nicola, 105-106Cantelmi (Cardinal), 43capitana, 131carpenters, 16, 94carracks (caraccas/Karrakka), 35, 104, 131 caraffa, 161


228

Carnival, 200-202, 205Carthage, 2, 7, 8-10, 11, 17, 53 Punic Wars, 9-10Caruana, Anton Emanuel, 104Caruana, Jackinus, 25-26catacombs, 130Catalans, 23-25, 27-28Cato, 16caulkers, 41, 94, 209Cavaliers’ Tour, 43, 211Cavallini, Giovanni Battista, 118Centre of the Society of Christian Doctrine

(M.U.S.E.U.M.), 130Chalkia, 41Chamber of Commerce, 75, 78, 82, 84changeling, 206Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (Qala), 154-

155Charles V, 34-35Charybdis, 5, 51chebec, 55cheese, 23, 40China, 76-77, 93Chompasso de tutta la starea della marina, 46Cicero, 11-12Ċirkewwa, 84coal bunkering, 78-80, 204, heavers/porters, 72-73, 75, 80, 182, 187, 204cocoa, 48Comino, 46, 118, 128, 219 church, 53Compaso de Navegare, 46, 115copper, 40, 165, 175Consolato del Mare, 38Constantinople, 15, 34corsairing, 22, 25, 26-28, 31, 33, 37-39, 51, 57, 85, 87,

130, 197, 209, 211, 214, 215, 217corso, 37-39cotton, 22, 25, 26, 33, 38, 40-43, 70-71, 174Crafts Centre (Gozo), 130cruising, 85, 102-103Customs House (ceremony), 210-211Dacoutros family, 71Darius the Great, 115D’Autun, Jean Quintin, 22de Nava family, 27-28de Palmeus, A.F.G., 121Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, 181Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 184Desguanez family, 27-28Despuig, Grand Master Ramon, 42, 175-176dgħajsa, 84-85, 131, 161, 164, 165-166, 202 dgħajsa ta’ Ghawdex, 97, 131, 161, 166-167 dgħajsa tal-latini…see dgħajsa ta’ Ghawdex dgħajsa tal-midalji, 161Despott, Giuseppe, 178-179

dingy, 161, 171-172Diodorus of Malta (Melitensis Diodorus), 12Diodorus Siculus, 7Djerba, 28, 33Dragut (Turgut Reis), 213Dragut Point, 212-213 chapel, 213dockyard, 9, 71, 74, 75, 80, 90, 94-97Dockyard School, 96Dudley, Sir Robert (Earl of Warwick), 118Dwejra, church, 208Egypt, 13, 15, 88, 98, 131emigration, 73, 81England…see Great Britainentrepreneurs, 82-83, 108Erardi, Stefano, 212Etruscans, 8eugenics, 91-92European Union, 183-184ex-voto (tabelle) offerings, 49, 54-56, 131-132, 209Farrugia, Michel Angelo, 46, 48Farrugia, Vincenzo, 55Filfla, 216, 218firilla, 161, 163, 168-169First World War, 75, 80, 91, 93Fish Aggregate Device (FAD), 192-193Fisheries Department, 178-181Fisheries Division, 182, 184fishing, 9, 67, 74, 98, 102, 106, 159-162, 167-170, 174 boats, 97, 159-164, 166-171 industry, 173-185 fishermen, 72-75, 99, 100, 105, 132, 159-160, 174-

175, 180, 186, 188, 190-192, 194-195, 206-207, 218

markets, 174-177 nets, 187-189 pots, 192-193 techniques/methods, 170, 174, 187-195Flanders, 46flax, 8, 40Florence, 116-117Floriana, 16folklore, 43, 197-211, 214-219Fontana, 209Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 182-183Fort Chambray, 121France, 41-43, 48, 69-71, 78, 88, 124, 177, 213Frederick IV, 26frejgatina, 161, 163, 168, 170-171, 172 frejgatina misluta, 161Freemantle, Admiral, 92French Creek, 9, 96-97Friggieri, Oliver, 104galleon, 35, 131, 203galleot, 131galley, 28, 35-36, 37, 47-48, 55-56, 131, 203, 209-210,

215

229

INDEX

Ganado, Herbert, 90garum, 16Gatto family, 27General Fisheries Council of the Mediterranean

(GFCM), 182, 184Genoa, 25-26, 28, 33, 117-118George III, 91ġerrejja, 202-203Ġgantija, 173-174Għajn Dwieli, 9Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, 8Għar Dalam, 173Għar Hasan, 214Għarb church, 52, 215, 219Għargħur church, 215Għaxaq chapel, 140-141gig, 161, 169, 171 gig racing, 161 gig tat-tigrijja, 172Girgenti, 23Gleneagles (ferry), 83-84Gnaeus Naevius, 9Gollcher family, 71Gonzaga, Buzzaccarini, 42Goos, Pieter, 118Gorgolione, Sebastiano, 46Gozo Cathedral, 156-157graffiti, 54, 105, 129-157grain, 13, 21, 23-26, 33, 38, 40, 41, 71, 73 storage in Malta 15-16 trade with Sicily & North Africa 22-26Grand Harbour, 9, 16, 70-71, 74-86, 95-98, 100, 102,

106, 120, 122-123, 126, 160-161, 164, 202, 207, 210-212

Grand Masters Palace, 118, 133Grand Tour, 43Great Britain, 43, 51, 70-81, 84-97, 99-102, 104-105,

116, 124-125, 161, 165, 172, 176-181, 197, 199Great Siege, 98, 101, 106, 213 Grech, Salvatore, 55Greece, 3, 4, 8, 40-41, 50, 98, 115Guevera family, 27Guidotti, Opizzio, 46-47Ħaġar Qim, 173Ħagrat, 173Ħal Far, 8, 214Hamrun, 8Harrison, John, 51, 116Heather, William, 123-124hemp, 22, 40, 190H.M.S. Dublin, 92H.M.S. Ganges, 93H.M.S. Melita, 95H.M.S. Victory, 88Hood, Admiral, 88Hornell, James, 179horses, 23

Hospitallers…see Order of St JohnHouel, Jean, 43indigo, 40Inglott, Ferdinand, 213Inquisitor of Malta, 43, 208 palace, 130, 133Inter-Governmental Oceanographic Commission

(IOC), 183International Commission for the Conservation of At-

lantic Tuna and Tuna-like Species, 195International Maritime Law Institute, 85International Maritime Organization, 85Ionian Islands, 40Ireland, 46iron, 23, 40, 175Italy, 17, 22, 41, 73, 75Jacobsz, Anthoine, 119 Jews, 130, Jewish merchants 23-26Juno, temple of, 11 Justinian, 15kajjik, 161, 163, 168, 169, 170 kajjik tal-gangmu, 169Katrina, legend of, 216Kelly, Rear Admiral J.D., 92Kerkenna, 33knowledge space, 31, 44-48Kordin, 173Kyra Panagia, 41lampara fishing, 189Lampedusa, 33Lascar, 76, 93latitude, 44, 51, 115-116, 118, 122leather, 23legends, 214-219Leghorn, 118Levanto, Franceco Maria, 118Libya, 21, 25Licata, 23-24Lilybaeum, 10, 12linen, 7, 40L’Isla (Senglea), 99, 197, 202, 205, 209, 211-212, 218-

219 churches, 55, 209, 211-212Livy, 10local transportation, 84-85, 97, 99locusts, 217longitude, 51, 115-116, 118, 122long-line fishing bottom, 189-190 surface, 191Lopez, Tomás Mauriçio, 124Lucini, Anton Francesco, 118luxuries, 12, 17luzzu, 161, 163, 166-168, 169-170, 179Maine (H.M. Hospital Ship/R.F.A.), 75-76Malta Maritime Authority, 85


Malta Maritime Museum, 104, 106-107Malta Port Division, 93Malta Territorial Force, 80Maltese boats, 159-172Maltese language, 93, 98, 104-105Maltese literature, 104Maltese painting, 49-50, 54-56, 105-106Maqluba, legend of, 216, 218Marfa, 84, 105, 163Marian cult, 53-54Marija Annunzjata church, 138-139maritime landscapes 53, 67 networks, 2, 22-26, 28, 40-41, 71 ritual, 32, 48-50, 53-56, 130, 206-207 sanctuaries 4-6, 12Marsa, 8, 9, 12-16Marsala, 22Marsalforn, 84 church, 53, 218Marsamxett (Marsamuscetto), 84-85, 99, 101, 124,

164, 202, 207Marsaskala, 206 churches, 202, 206, 208Marsaxlokk (Marzasiroccho), 3-4, 16, 49, 98, 124, 127,

181, 184, 197, 199, 206-207, 216Marseilles, 42, 88Martin II, 27Mdina/Rabat, 3, 8, 27, 43, 50, 55, 99, 130, 174, 216 churches, 131Mediterranean Association for Marine Biology

(MAMBO), 182Megara, 40Mellieħa, 69, 84, 177 churches, 54-55merchant seamen, 71-78, 87-89merchant shipping, 15, 22, 40, 67, 71, 75, 78-79, 85-

87, 89, 211merchants, 7, 13, 16, 23-26, 39, 42-43, 71, 104, 132,

176 Mermaid Cave/Street, legend of, 218-219Mġarr, (Gozo), 83-84, 105, 121, 181-182Mifsud, Lorenzo, 45Millo (da Millo), Antonio, 117Modon in the Morea, 35Mosta, 215-217 Bride of Mosta legend, 216-217 churches, 133, 146-147, 215Msida, 206nails, 40Napoleon, 88Nelson, Admiral Lord Horatio, 124Netherlands, 40, 88, 119Norman House, 130-131Normans, 21, 25, 69North Africa, 9, 13, 17, 21-22, 25-26, 27-28, 32, 35,

73, 78, 81

Old Prisons (Gozo), 130, 133Oliva, Joan, 3olive oil, 16, 40-41, 78Order of St John, 22, 33-65, 69, 87, 94, 97, 99, 105,

116, 122, 174-177, 203-204, 208-209, 211, 215 arrival in Malta, 33, 34-35, 51 consular network, 40, 57 corsairing, 37-39Ottomans, 24, 34-35, 52Our Lady of Hope church, 215Our Lady of Liesse church, 211Our Lady of Qortin church, 212Our Lady of Port Salvo church, 211-213Pace, Giovanni Maria, 47Pace, Giuseppe, 48, 121Pace family, 71Pagnini, Giovanni, 46, 119, 121Pantelleria, 8, 27, 33Paola, 9paper, 40Pazan tal-Bxajjar, 199-200Pellegrino, Giacomo de, 26pepper, 40Perellos, Grand Master Ramon, 36, 38periploi, 45, 115Pescatore, Enrico (Henry), 26-27, 33Peter III, 23Phoenicians, 2-8, 17, 53, 199 temples, 3-6 tombs 8-9Pimentel, Manoel, 119Pinto, Grand Master Manuel, 48, 176-177piracy, 11, 22, 26-28, 33, 36, 37, 129, 215-217Pîrî Re’îs, 116Pisa, 25-26, 33, 46, 115Plato, 51polacca, 55Pompey the Great, 11portable altars, 54portolans, 33, 44-48, 53, 57, 115-116Porto Salvo, 211, 213-214 churches, 211, 213-214Portugal, 41, 71, 119Poseidon, 5, 50-51prayer, 4-5, 49-50, 53-54, 56, 211, 217 Preti, Mattia, 50private sector, 78, 86, 96-97, 183privateering…see corsairingPunic…see CarthageQala churches, 53-54, 133, 154-155, 206, 219Qarraba, 8Qolla, 8Qormi, 8, 131 churches, 55, 131, 148-149Qortin, 212Qortin l-Mdawwar, 174Qrendi church, 218

231

INDEX

Quintinus, Johannes, 116-117Rabat (Gozo), 8 churches, 156-157, 206, 209Ragusa, 41Ramla il-Hamra, 16Ras il-Wardija, 5-6, 53Ras ir-Raħeb, 5-6Rhodes, 34-35, 41rice, 39-40Rispolo, Zaccaria, 46-47Rizo, Bernardino, 46, 48Rohan, Grand Master Emmanuel de, 42Rome, 9, 67, 69, 98, 167 presence in Malta, 10-16ropemakers, 13Roux, Joseph, 124rowing regattas, 100-101, 161, 212Royal Air Force, 80Royal Fleet Auxiliary, 75-78Royal Naval Division, 91Royal Navy, 45, 71, 74-78, 80, 86-97, 166 attitudes towards Maltese 91-93 Maltese seamen employed by, 86, 88-91, 93 pensions, 90, 92sailmakers, 16, 94Salina, 16, 69, 125salt, 16, 40, 68-70saltpetre, 40San Anton Palace, 130San Baskel church, 206San Blas chapel (Gozo), 133San Cir church, 131, 206San Franġisk chapel, 148-149San Gejtan chapel, 150-151San Liju, church, 206San Luċjan tower, 185San Pawl Milqi, 8, 11 chapel, 54sardines, 40Sardinia, 22, 25 Schranz dynasty, 105Scylax of Caryanda, 115Scylla, 5, 51Sea Malta, 78, 85sea shells, 105, 173-174, 201sea urchins, 173, 201Second World War, 76-77, 80, 90-91, 93, 103, 106,

179-180, 207Selmun, 130Sempronius, 10shipwrights, 13, 94Sicily, 7, 8-10, 12, 17, 26-27, 32, 33, 42, 69, 71, 117,

159, 169, 173, 209, 213 trade with Malta, 9, 21-25silk, 40skins, 40Skorba, 173

slavery, 22, 25-26, 36-38, 53, 209, 215, 217Sliema, 70, 84, 99-100, 102 churches, 208, 212-214smiths, 12, 94Smyrna, 40Smyth, William Henry, 45, 47, 124-127soap, 40Spain, 22, 32, 41, 48, 71, 88, 98, 116Speranza church, 215speronara, 49, 55, 131, 209, 218Spinola Bay, 198 chapel, 133, 142-143sponges, 40Spratt, Thomas Abel Brimage, 124-125, 128St Andrew, 207 churches, 209St Anne feast, 200-201 churches, 208St Anthony of Padua, 202 church, 202St Blaise chapel (Malta), 152-153St Christopher, 209St Demetrius (San Dimitri), 209 churches, 52, 208-209, 215, 219 legend of, 52, 215St Elmo (St Erasmus), 212 fort, 98, 212St Francis of Paola, 208-209 church, 209St George (San Ziorzi) churches, 53, 209St James Gate, 133St John the Baptist, 204-206, 213St John the Evangelist, 210-211, 215 church, 215St Julian’s Bay, 198, 206 chapel, 133, 142-143St Kerrew (Kurrew) legend of 52, 219 church, 206, 219St Lawrence (San Lorenzo) church, 51, 53St Maria churches, 53St Matthew church, 218St Paul, 11, 15, 50, 52, 54, 102, 106 churches, 53, 146-147, 218 Pauline cult, 52, 57St Paul’s Bay, 124-125, 197, 210 church, 210St Paul’s grotto, 43, 52St Paul the first hermit…see St KerrewSt Philip Neri chapel, 140-141St Thomas Bay chapel, 150-151St Ursula legend of, 217 nuns of, 39steel, 40Stella Maris church, 212-214

232


stevedores, 13, 16, 73stewards, 72, 90, 93Strabo, 6, 51Suleiman the Magnificent, 34superstition, 49-50, 159, 197, 204-207swimming, 67, 98-100synchronized swimming, 100Syracuse 7, 12, 15, 23, 24, 26, 28tabelle…see ex-votoTa’ Cenc (Gozo), 130Ta’ Wied Qirda chapel, 134-135Tagliaferro family, 71Tal-Ħerba church, 55-56, 209Tal-Ħlas chapel, 144-145Tal-Kuncizzjoni chapel, 142-143Tal-Qlejja chapel, 133tallow, 40tar, 40tarkijja, 167tartana, 40, 55, 131Tarxien, 130 church, 138-139, 174Tas-Silġ, 3-4, 6, 11, 53technology, 51, 80, 94-97, 116, 124, 187Tenedos, 15Terranova, 23textiles, 6, 8, 41Thackeray, William Makepeace, 102-103Tigni, 99tin, 40tobacco, 40tonnara, 176-177Torlonia relief, 130tourism, 82-83, 102-103, 194-195Trafalgar, 88Trapani, 22, 26tratte, 42trawling, 181, 183, 185, 189, 194-195Tribunale degli Armamenti, 38-39Tripoli, 21, 25-26, 35, 217tuna (tunny), 23, 40, 177, 181, 184, 191, 194-195, 202Tunisia, 21, 25, 28, 32, 73, 78

universitas, 24University of Malta, 85, 161Valenzia, Ercole, 76-77Valletta, 39, 46, 54, 82, 84, 99, 102-103, 106, 117-118,

120-124, 126, 130, 175-178, 184, 208, 211 churches, 209, 211, 213van Keulen family, 117-119Venice, 24, 26-28, 33, 42, 46, 88, 166Verres, 11-12Vindicari, 23vinegar, 40Visitation Chapel (Ta’ Wied Qirda), 134-135von der Groben, Otto Friedrich, 211von Zach, Baron F, 122, 124votive offerings, 48, 53, 54-55, 105water polo, 100weaving, 7wheat…see grainWied il-Għajn, 55Wied il-Għasel, church, 217, 219Wied iż-Żurrieq, 8Wied Qirda, 131, 133Wignacourt, Grand Master Alof de, 38, 52wine, 21, 23, 24, 40, 174wool stuffing, 200-201Xatt il-Molliiet, 13Xemxija, 174Xewkija, 206xini, 202-203Xlendi, 5, 8-9, 84, 179, 209xprunara...see speronaraXwejni, 68-69yachting (yachts), 74, 82, 85, 101, 103 clubs, 101Żabbar churches, 55, 130Zante, 41Żebbuġ (Malta), 131, 174 churches, 133, 134-135, 144-145, 152-153Żetjun, 130Żgugina, legend of, 52, 215Żurrieq, 8, 130, 216

EDIT

ED BY T

IMM

Y G

AM

BIN

As an archipelago in the center of the Mediterranean the sea has shaped many aspects of Malta’s culture, traditions, economy and demography. The collection of essays contained in this volume reflect the diverse histories and threads that have come together through time to make Malta the island nation that it is today. Divided into two main sections – the first deals with historic narratives ranging from antiquity to modern period whereas the second part covers various facets of Malta’s maritime heritage.

With revealing text and numerous illustrations this edited volume can certainly be considered as the standard work on Malta’s maritime history and heritage. It is as valuable for students as it is for those who have a passion for the sea and all things maritime.

Timmy Gambin is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta


TIMMY GAMBIN has been Senior Lecturer in Maritime Archaeology in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, since 2012. He graduated in History from this University and went on to attain his Masters in Maritime Archaeology and History from the University of Bristol where he also got his doctorate in Maritime Archaeology. Dr Gambin has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects. These include the PaleoMed Project with the CNRS (Aix en Provence) which is aimed at the reconstruction of ancient coastal landscapes and environments of the Maltese Islands. The Ancient Cisterns Project with CalPoly and Harvey Mudd Colleges (USA) explores underground water management systems through the use of small remote operated vehicles armed with a variety of sensors. He has also co-directed numerous offshore underwater surveys in various parts of the Mediterranean including Spain, Italy and Croatia. Currently, he is working on the exploration and study of the Phoenician shipwreck discovered off Gozo.

The Maltese Islands

theSea

TH

E MA

LTESE ISL

AN

DS &

TH

E SEA

CONTENTS & CONTRIBUTORS

The Maltese Islands and the Sea in Antiquity

Timmy Gambin

Maritime activity between Malta, Sicily

and North Africa in the Late Middle Ages

Mark Aloisio

Motley lots on liminal islands of an Order

Frank Theuma

Riding the crest of the wave: An overview

of the maritime history of Malta in the

nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Carmel Vassallo

The charting of Maltese waters

Albert Ganado

Ship graffiti on Maltese churches:

A photographic essay of sacred maritime

iconography

Timmy Gambin

Maltese traditional wooden boats

Charles Pulè

A history of the fishing industry in Malta


Evolution of fishing methods


Some folkloristic aspects of the sea

Guido Lanfranco6 Strait Street, Valletta, MaltaTel: +356 2149 7046 Fax: +356 2149 6904www.midseabooks.com

ISBN 978-99932-7-551-0

9 789993 275510