Malta has long been associated with the Phoenicians, who used to do business in Malta at the height of their naval trade.

Perhaps the most noticeable thing we Maltese picked up from these seafarers was the use of the all Seeing Eye on our colourful fishing boats. A few thousand years later, it is about to feature on a Phoenician-style boat.

The vessel will soon set sail for Europe from the port city of Tyre in a bid to highlight the contributions of the ancient peoples of current-day Lebanon to human civilisation, as well as the role the country can continue to play in a modern global society.

Reports in the Lebanese Daily Star newspaper said the ship was named Europa, after the Phoenician Princess Europa, the daughter of Agenor, the Phoenician King of Tyre. According to Greek mythology, Europa was abducted and taken to Crete by Zeus, the king of the gods, who had transformed himself into a great white bull. Legend has it that the continent of Europe is named after her.

The Peace Missions Association is carrying out the project. Fadi Maalouf, a member of the association, said the boat “will carry 16 people representing Lebanon’s different sects on a tour that will include Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Italy, Spain and France”. The trip is scheduled to start in the coming spring.

Mr Maalouf said the goal of the project is to raise awareness among citizens of foreign countries about past and present civilizations in Lebanon. “The project also aims to encourage our officials to organise their relationships, unify their efforts and respect their country’s past and present while working on building its future,” he added.

The boat is 13 metres long and four metres wide, with a sail representing the Lebanese flag. Mr Maalouf said the boat was designed according to the Phoenician style: “The front of the boat was given the shape of the head of a horse, while the back has taken the form of the tail of a whale, just like real Phoenician ships.”