Amphorae

“A vessel used for holding wine, oil, honey. The following cut represents amphorae in the British Museum. They are of variouss forms and sizes; in general they are tall and narrow, with a small neck, and a handle on each side of the neck, and terminating at the bottom in a point, which was let into a stand or stuck in the ground, so that the vessel stood upright: several amphorae have been found in this position in the cellars at Pompeii. Amphorae were commonly made of earthenware. Homer mentions amphorae of gold and stone, and the Egyptians had them of brass; glass vessels of this form have been found at Pompeii. The most common use of the amphora, both amoung the Greeks and the Romans, was for keeping wine. The cork was covered with pitch or gypsum, and on the outside the title of the wine was painted, the date of the vintage being marked by the names of the consuls then in office; or, when the jars were of glass, little tickets were suspended from them, indicating these particulars.” — Smith, 1873

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