Finds

Small bronze Nuraghic praying warrior statuette with sword and shield (unknown location)

The bronze votive statuette (size: h. 11.5 cm; width 2.2 cm; thickness 1.8 cm) comes from an unknown location in the territory of Dorgali (fig. 1).

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Fig. 1 - Nuraghic warrior (from MORAVETTI, ALBA, FODDAI 2014, p. 367).

It is made of bronze by the technique of lost wax casting and represents a warrior with a short sword and a shield on his shoulders. Despite having been found without upper limbs, it is plausible, based on a comparison with similar examples, that the right hand should be outstretched with palms forward in the greeting ritual.

He is wearing a helmet on his head equipped with a conical plume, decorated with chevrons motifs and engraved parallel horizontal lines. The shoulders and neck are protected by a concentric band throat guard worn under a tight tunic over which the dagger is easily distinguishable around his waist.

The artefact, dated to the X-VII centuries B.C., is on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari. The bronze statuette may be compared with similar warriors found in the Nuraghic complex of Abini of Teti (fig. 2) and of Monte St. Antonio of Siligo (fig. 3).

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Fig. 2 - Nuraghic warrior (from MORAVETTI, ALBA, FODDAI 2014, p. 368).
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Fig. 3 - Nuraghic warrior (from MORAVETTI, ALBA, FODDAI 2014, p. 368).



 

Bibliografia

  • CANINO G., Guerriero orante con stocco e scudo-scheda 15, in Moravetti A., Alba E., Foddai L. (a cura di), La Sardegna Nuragica. Storia e materiali, Sassari 2014, p. 367.
  • CANINO G., Guerriero orante con stocco e scudo-schede 16,17, in Moravetti A., Alba E., Foddai L. (a cura di), La Sardegna Nuragica. Storia e materiali, Sassari 2014, p. 368.
  • LILLIU G., Sculture della Sardegna nuragica, Verona 1966, pp. 180-181, n. 95, figg. 219-220.
  • MORAVETTI A., ALBA E., FODDAI L. (a cura di), La Sardegna Nuragica. Storia e materiali, Sassari 2014, pp. 111-120.

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