These are three important bronze figures for the history of Sardinia, as well as for the territory of Sirai and Sulcis: they were found in the area of the “temple of Astarte” and the pre-existing Nuraghe, and are extraordinary items from later investigations.

Fig. 1 - The "tempio di Astarte" (photo Unicity S.p.A.).

The bronze figure preparing for libation and the lyre player are attributed to local Phoenician production due to the presence of a Nuragic jug, that indicates the existence of a meeting between the two cultures. The association of music and libation (with lyre players) is known in the iconographs of ancient Near East origin. It has been suggested that the bronzes were a part of a decorated container. Chronology may date back to the second half of the 8th century B.C.

Figs. 2-3 - Phoenician bronzes from Monte Sirai (MOSCATI 1988, p. 427).

A third bronze figure was found on the ground, perhaps from the dumps of the old digs on the slopes of the high ground. They are Eastern and Cypriot items, such as the “smiting god” (the divinity that strikes using various types of weapons). These may be older than the previous items and may date back to at least the 9th century B.C.

Fig. 4 - Bronze figure from Monte Sirai kind of ‘smiting god’ (BERNARDINI, BOTTO 2011, fig. 8).