The jug with the bi-lobate lip was found inside tomb 11 AR of the Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Sulky and belongs to some grave goods which date from the first half of the fifth century B.C. It consists of a ceramic jug with a red englobe and with the characteristic decoration of grouped horizontal lines (fig. 1).

Fig. 1 - Bi-lobate truncated-cone jug from tomb AR 11 of the necropolis of Sulky. Municipal Archaeological Museum "F. Barreca" (photo by Unicity S.p.A.).

This type of jug is part of a ritual kit which was widespread in the Phoenician-Punic necropolis in Sulky (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 - One of the sets of grave goods from the Phoenician-Punic necropolis in Sulky. Municipal Archaeological Museum "F. Barreca" (photo by C. Olianas).

It is also called bi-conical jug because of the typical conformation of the body with two opposing truncated cones (fig. 3) and with a false double spouted handle (as the double spouted handle is attributable to older jugs than our sample, fig. 4).

Fig. 3 - Bi-lobate jug with ovoid belly dating from the seventh century B.C. from Tharros. Antiquarium Arborense (Or) (from http://www.antiquariumarborense.it/it/Museo/Archivi/Reperti/Immagini/036_DSC_5753.jpg).

What was this type of jug used for? It was the container for the wine which was drunk in honour of the deceased, probably according to the rite of Marzeah, the eastern ritual feast in which wine was a very important element, able to give a closeness to divinities, and whose roots in the culture of the Near East are extremely ancient and linked to the cult of heroes and kings.

Fig. 4 - Bi-lobate truncated-cone jug from tomb AR 11 of Sulky with false double spout handle. Municipal Archaeological Museum "F. Barreca" (photo by Unicity S.p.A.).