Aluzzu (Maltese pronunciation:[lutt͡su],pl. luzzijiet) is atraditional fishing boat from theMaltese islands. This type of boat developed in the early 20th century, although it is very similar to much older traditional Maltese boats such as theferilla. They are usually painted in bright colours, while thebow has a pair of eyes.
The wordluzzu is derived perhaps from theSicilianguzzu, which itself should be cognated withItaliangozzo.[1] Aguzzu is a common fishing or transport vessel used in Italy and Sicily.[2]
The Italiangozzo visited Malta frequently in the 1880s, and the design of theluzzu is believed to have evolved from it in the early 20th century. The boat is also similar to the Malteseferilla, but it has a higher freeboard and a shorter stem and is made of stronger timber.[3]
On 30 October 1948, an overloadedluzzu that was being used to ferry passengers from Malta to Gozocapsized and sank offĦondoq ir-Rummien, and 23 people were killed.[4]
Earlyluzzijiet were mainly used as transport vessels, but after they were motorised, they became popular as fishing boats. Modern versions of the boats have a deck, and some have a cabin. Today, no newluzzijiet are built, but a few hundred boats are still in operation, particularly atMarsaxlokk. Someluzzijiet have been converted to passenger carriers for tourists, although the vast majority continue to be used as fishing vessels.[3]
Theluzzu is a sturdy,carvel-built boat with a double-ended hull. Originally, theluzzu was equipped with oars and sails, although nowadays, almost all are motorised, with onboarddiesel engines being the most common.[3]
The boats are brightly painted in shades of yellow, red, green and blue, and the bow is normally pointed with a pair of eyes. These eyes may be the modern survival of an ancient Phoenician custom (also practised by theancient Greeks and Egyptians); they are referred to as theEye of Horus or ofOsiris. They are said to protect the fishermen while at sea.[5]
In 2016, Prof. Anthony Aquilina from the University of Malta determined that there are some traditional rules that come into play when choosing the colour palette for aluzzu.
Whilst reddish brown or maroon was typically painted on the lower half of the boat to mark the waterline, the locality of a boat’s owner could be identified by the colour of its mustaċċ. The mustaċċ is the band above the lower half of the boat, shaped like a moustache, which gives the feature its name. A red mustaċċ would indicate that the boat came from St Paul’s Bay, for example. A lemon yellow indicated a boat from Msida or St Julian’s, whilst an ochre yellow one would identify the boat as hailing from the Marsaxlokk and Marsascala area. When a mustaċċ was painted black, it denoted mourning for a death in the family.[6]
The town ofMarsaxlokk is especially famous for the large numbers ofluzzu and similar craft operating in its harbour. Theluzzu is often considered a symbol of Malta.[5]
Media related toLuzzu at Wikimedia Commons
