Ceramics home: Roman storage vessels (amphorae).

Roman storage vessels (amphorae)

Wine, olive oil and other foodstuffs produced in Mediterranean countries were stored and transported in amphorae. After the removal of their contents, some amphorae were re-used as cremation urns, others as urinals. Because of earlier trade links, wine amphorae (Dressel 1) were occasionally imported into Britain before the Roman conquest of AD43.

Many amphorae stood nearly 1m tall and weighed over 50kg when full. The largest, globular, amphorae contained over 77 litres (17 gallons) of olive oil and weighed around 100kg. Most amphorae had a pair of handles and a pointed base to act as a shock absorber and prevent the contents leaking. The spike could also be pushed into the ground or placed in a rack.

Olive oil amphorae (Dressel 20) were often stamped with the name of the owner of the estate that produced the oil. Many amphorae were marked in ink with details of their contents and destination, but these marks seldom survive.

Londinium depended heavily on imports of fish sauce, olive oil and wine, and so the Museum's amphora collection is large. Most amphorae found in London date between AD70 and 200.

Featured types

Globular olive oil amphorae (-100 - 410)

Dressel 1 and 'Koan' wine amphorae (-100 - 410)

'Rhodian' wine amphorae (-100 - 410)

Spanish fish sauce amphorae (-100 - 410)

'Gaulish' wine amphorae (-100 - 410)

'Carrot' amphorae (-100 - 410)

Related objects

There are 126 related objects.

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95.495 amphora. Roman	95.466 amphora. Roman	93.210 amphora. Roman-Saxon; 5th-7th century	93.188 amphora. Roman
93.186 amphora. Roman	93.176 amphora. Roman	93.170 amphora. Roman	91.111/73b amphora. Roman
87.138 amphora. Roman; mid 1st-2nd century	83.461/139 amphora. Roman; 2nd-3rd century	L267/34 amphora. Roman	A28165 amphora. Roman
12836 amphora. Roman	91.81/1 amphora. Roman	85.1/1 amphora. Roman	NN22191 amphora. Roman
A11247 amphora. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	12977 amphora; miniature amphora.	3015 amphora; miniature amphora.	3014 amphora; miniature amphora.
24866 amphora.	A1227 amphora. Late Iron Age-Roman; 1st-2nd century	83.461/95 amphora. Late Iron Age-Roman; 1st-3rd century	83.461/125 amphora. Late Iron Age-Roman; 1st-3rd century

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