Pottery
Storage Amphora
Hellenistic
original
gift of: Peter and Myriam Golf
date: c. third century BC
provenance: eastern Mediterranean; purchased by the donors
description: A fully intact ancient Greek transport amphora. Baked clay with marine encrustations. Height 80 cm, diameter 29 cm.
This type of vessel was used widely thorughout the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds to facilitate the trade of such popular commodities as olive oil and wine.
As is typical of amphorae, the vessel is pointed at its base and would have lain on its side in the bottom of a boat.
(See also: Small Black Figure Amphora; Funeral Dancers Amphora.)