Two masks representing Silenus were found in the necropolis of Sant'Antioco; both were found in the same year and in the same place where the female protome was discovered.

The first one (fig. 1) with a beard made with black painted vertical lines has several different features compared with both the specimens found in Tharros and those found in Carthage. In respect of those from Tharros (fig. 2), it has less protruding ears, the eyes are completely perforated, the moustache and beard are strongly evident and the mouth is closed with a fleshy lower lip.

The Sulcis specimen was found together with other Punic material dating back to the fifth century B.C., a dating which is believed valid for the masks of Carthage as well; the Tharros specimens instead may be framed between the end of V and the end of the fourth century B.C.

Fig. 1 - Silenus mask from Sant'Antioco. Municipal Archaeological Museum "F. Barreca" (from http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulki#mediaviewer/File:Sileno_%28Sulky%29.jpg).

The second Sulcis mask is slightly darker than the previous one and its upper left part has been restored.

Fig. 2 - Silenus mask from Tharros. National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari (from Ciasca 1988, p. 365).

There is a big difference between the two Sulcis specimens (fig. 3): the silhouette of the second is oval, while that of the other mask tends to be squared and flares upwards in a sort of cap headgear which also includes its ears. The face is more human than resembling Silenus and the moustache, a distinguishing feature of the Silenus prototype, is absent. The closest comparison can be made with the masks found in Carthage, which are also characterised by more human features than those of Silenus. This type may be dated to the third century B.C.

Fig. 3 - Silenus mask found in Sulky. Archaeological Museum "F. Barreca” (from http2.bp.blogspot.com-0iijUChNeIwUKkWeCtMAeIAAAAAAAAAEcv43cPqIsvjUs1600image004.gif).

What were these strange and particular masks used for? They were designed to terrorise evil spirits and protect the deceased, that is, they had an apotropaic function. Grinning masks also had the same function, such as the one from San Sperate (CA) (fig. 4), a typology though which does not seem to have been used in the tombs of ancient Sulky.

Fig. 4 - Grinning mask from San Sperate (CA) (from http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Sperate#mediaviewer/File:Maschera_punica.jpg).