Amphora

  Amphora

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima.

Amphora is a big vase with two handles. The name "Amphora" derives from the Greek word "carried on both sides". It was used for transporting and storing olive oil, wine, fish sauce, grain, and other commodities. The amphora varied in size from small to large. The typical amphora was around 50 cm, and contained 24-30 litres.

Amphora first appeared around the 15th century B.C., and it was widely used in Mediterranean area until 7th century A.D. Some amphoras were decorated with paintings. Most of them were suitable for practical use. The name of owner, trading partner and commodity, or content were written in the surface.

The "Amphora" was a Roman cubic foot, that was 25.79 liters.
The "@" mark used for e-mails is said to derives from amphora. The "@" represented one amphora.

Neck-Amphora

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima

Click the image to enlarge. Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

The neck-amphora is identifiable by its clearly defined neck. This type of amphora is very old. It was a pottery with geometric designs in 11th century B.C. In 6th and 5th century B.C. red-figured and black-figured neck-amphora was made.

Transport Amphora

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima.

Click the image to enlarge. Copyrighted by Shiro Kawashima.

This amphora (called Dressel 1B) was used for transporting wine, etc. for trade. This type of amphora fit in a hole or heap up inside the ship. After coming ashore it was stick in the ground or rack with holes. Above image is the scean of amphoras heaping up alternately inside the ship.