From the Levant to Sardinia, via North Africa and Cyprus. Some remarks on the stone thrones known as “stepped altars” from the Tophet of Tharros

Within the repertoire of the stone monuments erected in the Punic sanctuaries known as “Tophets”, the so-called “stepped altars” represent an absolute unicum since they were found only at Tharros (Sardinia). From a morphological point of view, their affiliation to the category of “thrones” at the time proposed by Sabatino Moscati can be considered an established fact. Still, their role within the ritual of the Tophet of Tharros remains unclear. This paper discusses the function of these stone monuments through a review of their archaeological context and an in-depth iconographic examination.