During digs in1966 in the temple of Astarte area, Ferruccio Barreca reported two fragments of terracotta arula altar, each with a Gorgon mask. The first layer, that contained the terracotta fragments, also contained materials from the Nuragic age to the first century B.C., still the Roman Republic Age.

Figs. 1-2- The "temple of Astarte" (photo Unicity S.p.A.); a stratigraph of the 1966 dig (MONTE SIRAI –IV, fig. 1).

The gorgoneion has an open mouth, a tongue sticking out and a cluster of teeth, with canines highlighted. The image has ancient Greek patterns, with the hair divided into two bands and falling vertically on the sides of the face. The forward ears, like the hair, are a reminder of the Egyptian style Phoenician protomes.

The gorgoneion is surrounded by a decorated cornice.

The chronology suggested by the archaeologist is Roman, in the 2nd century B.C. but a possible earlier dating to the Punic Age is not excluded. Comparisons, at least for archetypes, lead to Sicily and Ancient Greece.

Figs. 3-4- The arula with gorgoneion (MONTE SIRAI - IV, cover); antefix by Mendolito di Adrano, end of 6th century B.C. (ALBANESE PROCELLI 1990, fig. 19).