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DMITRIY MOROZ / ALAMY

SERVING WITH DISTINCTION. Shardanu warriors are often depicted in the battle reliefs of Egyptian New Kingdom pharaohs, who employed them as mercenaries. In the mortuary temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, the Shardanu are shown helping to repel an attack from various “peoples of the sea,” including other Shardanu warriors. In such reliefs, the Shardanu are consistently depicted with distinctive weapons and gear, including longswords, round shields, and horned helmets. Interestingly, dozens of bronze figurines uncovered in Sardinia, such as this 15-inch tall figure possibly from the region of Sulcis, show remarkably similar features.