The stelae at the Tharros tophet, of which there are more than three hundred, still intact and broken, offer a view of several representations, although they are a rough, elementary iconographic documentation.

Most of the representations on them are symbolic, including the baetylus, the sacred pillar and are considered to be the abode of divinities (figs. 1-3).

Fig. 1 - Punic stelae with baetylus from the 5th-4th century B.C. (Oristano, Antiquarium Arborense) (photo from Unicity S.p.A.)

Fig. 2 - Punic stelae with baetylus from the 5th-4th century B.C. (Oristano, Antiquarium Arborense) (photo from Unicity S.p.A.)

Fig. 3 - Punic stelae with baetylus from the 5th-4th century B.C. (Oristano, Antiquarium Arborense) (photo from Unicity S.p.A.)

The main face of the stelae, known as the mirror, shows the outline of a small holy shrine with the crown decorated with Uraeus snakes, sacred cobras from Egyptian religion, in bas-relief. Inside the shine there is a baetylus idol, with a tapered upper part.

The stelae have a continuation of the temple concept on two sides, with two relief work pillars.

The Egyptian style crown places the stelae in Class II of the Tore classification (fig. 4).

Fig. 4 - The type classification of the stelae in Tharros (from TORE, 1975, picture 1. Review C. Tronchetti)

Dating of the stelae is between the 5th and 4th century B.C.