Amphora

Uncommon card · No. 99426

An amphora (; Ancient Greek: ἀμφορεύς, romanized: amphoreús; English pl. amphorae or amphoras) is a type of storage and transport jar with a pointed bottom and characteristic shape and size which fit tightly (and therefore safely) against each other in storage rooms and packages, tied together with rope and delivered by land or sea. Vessels of similar size and shape have been used from as early as the Neolithic Period. Amphorae were used in vast numbers for the transport and storage of various products, both liquid and dry, but mostly for wine, olive oil, or garum. Transport amphorae are ceramic, but examples of table amphorae in metal, glass, and other materials have been found. Versions of the table amphorae were one of many shapes used in Ancient Greek vase painting. Two types of amphorae existed: table amphorae, and transport or storage amphorae. The amphora complements a large storage jar, the pithos (pl. pithoi), which makes available capacities between one-half and two and one-half...

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