View source for amphora

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[[prose|P.]] and [[verse|V.]] [[ἀμφορεύς]], ὁ [[ἀμφιφορεύς]], ὁ.

[[a mixing-bowl to hold ten amphorae]]: [[verse|V.]] [[κρατὴρ δεκάμφορος]] ([[Euripides]], ''[[Cyclops]]'' 388).

[[holding ten thousand amphorae]], adj.: [[Aristophanes|Ar.]] [[μυριάμφορος]].
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{{Lewis
|lshtext=<b>amphŏra</b>: ,, ae (<br /><b>I</b> gen. plur. as a [[measure]], [[usually]] amphorūm, v [[infra]], II.; cf. [[Charis]]. p. 41 P.), f., = [[ἀμφορεύς]], a [[vessel]], [[usually]] made of [[clay]], [[with]] [[two]] handles or ears; for liquids, esp. [[wine]], a [[flagon]], [[pitcher]]. [[flask]], [[bottle]], [[jar]], etc.; cf. Smith, Dict. Antiq.<br /><b>I</b> Lit.: amphoras implere, [[Cato]], R. R. 113, 2: [[amphora]] coepit Institui, Hor. A. P. 22; so id. C. 3, 8, 11; 3, 16, 34; Petr. 34 al.— Also for holding [[wine]]: [[amphora]] vini, Vulg. 1 Reg. 1, 24; ib. Dan. 14, 2; [[oil]]: amphorae oleariae, [[Cato]], R. R. 10, 2; [[honey]]: aut pressa puris [[mella]] condit amphoris, Hor. Epod. 2, 15; [[water]]: amphoram aquae portans, Vulg. Luc. 22, 10.—Poet. for the [[wine]] contained [[therein]], Hor. C. 3, 28, 8.—<br /><b>II</b> Transf.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> A [[measure]] for liquids (also called [[quadrantal]]; cf. Fest. p. 258 Müll.), = 2 urnae, or 8 congii, etc. = 6 gals. 7 pts.: in singulas vini amphoras, Cic. Font. 5, 9; Plin. 9, 30, 48, § 93. Since [[such]] a [[measure]] [[was]] kept as a [[standard]] at the [[Capitolium]], [[amphora]] Capitolina signifies an [[amphora]] of the [[full]] [[measure]], [[Capitol]]. Max. 4.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> The [[measure]] of a [[ship]] (as the ton [[with]] us): naves, quarum [[minor]] nulla erat duūm [[milium]] amphorūm, Lentul. ap. Cic. Fam. 12, 15, 2; Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 82: navem, quae [[plus]] [[quam]] CCC. amphorarum esset, Liv. 21, 63.
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{{Gaffiot
|gf=<b>amphŏra</b>,¹¹ æ, f. ([[ἀμφορεύς]]), amphore [récipient utilisé surtout pour les liquides] : [[Cato]] Agr. 113, 2 ; Hor. Epo. 2, 15 ; Col. Rust. 12, 40 &#124;&#124; [mesure pour les liquides]: Cic. Font. 9 ; Plin. 9, 93 &#124;&#124; [tonnage d’un navire] : Lentul. Fam. 12, 15, 2 ; Plin. 6, 82.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; gén pl. [[amphorum]] Lentul.||[mesure pour les liquides]: Cic. Font. 9 ; Plin. 9, 93||[tonnage d’un navire] : Lentul. Fam. 12, 15, 2 ; Plin. 6, 82.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; gén pl. [[amphorum]] Lentul.
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{{Georges
|georg=amphora ([[später]] [[amfora]]), ae, f. ([[ἀμφορεύς]], zsgz. aus [[ἀμφιφορεύς]] v. ἀμφι-[[φέρω]]), I) [[ein]] großes zylinderförmiges, [[meist]] aus [[Ton]] ( Hor. art. poët. 21. Cael. Aur. chron. 3, 2, 23), [[doch]] [[auch]] aus [[Glas]] (dah. vitrea, Petr. 34, 6), [[sogar]] [[einmal]] aus dem [[Onyx]] ( Plin. 36, 59) verfertigtes [[Gefäß]] [[mit]] [[spitz]] zulaufendem unterem [[Ende]], um es in die [[Erde]] od. in die Löcher [[des]] [[abacus]] (s.d. no. III) [[stecken]] zu [[können]], [[oben]] [[mit]] einem engen Halse u. [[zwei]] Henkeln zum [[Tragen]], [[mit]] einem [[Kork]] ([[cortex]] od. [[suber]]) [[verschlossen]] u. [[dieser]] [[wieder]] [[mit]] [[Pech]] od. [[Gips]] versiegelt ( [[cortex]] [[astrictus]] [[pice]], amphorae [[diligenter]] gypsatae), die Amphora, der [[Krug]], gew. zum Aufbewahren [[des]] Weins, [[nachdem]] er in den doliis [[gehörig]] gegoren hatte ( Procul. dig. 33, 6, 15; [[dann]] bezeichnet [[mit]] den Konsuln, [[unter]] denen [[sie]] gelagert waren, an den gläsernen [[auf]] pittacia, tesserae; vgl. Orelli Hor. carm. 3, 21, 1), [[oft]] b. [[Cato]], Hor. u.a.: meton. (poet.) [[für]] »[[Wein]]«. Hor. u. Mart. – zum Aufbewahren [[des]] Honigs, Cic. u. Hor.: [[des]] Öls, olearia, [[Cato]]: [[des]] geschmolzenen Metalls, Nep. – zum Aufbewahren eines Leichnams [[als]] [[Sarg]] (dah. in der [[Mitte]] aufgeschnitten u. [[nach]] Hineinlegen [[des]] Leichnams [[wieder]] zusammengefügt), Prop. 4, 5, 75. – [[auch]] [[als]] großes Uringefäß [[mit]] einem [[mehr]] trichterförmigen Halse in Sackgäßchen u. Durchgängen zum [[Gebrauch]] [[für]] die Vorübergehenden aufgestellt, C. [[Titius]] b. Macr. [[sat]]. 2, 12 (3, 16), 15. – amphorae sparteae, [[mit]] [[zwei]] Handhaben versehene Körbe aus Pfriemgras, zum Aufbewahren der Weintrauben, [[Cato]] r.r. 11, 2. – II) übtr., 1) [[als]] [[Maß]] [[für]] Flüssigkeiten ([[auch]] [[quadrantal]] [[gen]].) = 2 urnae od. 8 congii od. 48 sextarii = [[rund]] 20 Liter, u. 5 amphorae = [[rund]] 100 Liter, Cic. u.a. – [[amphora]] Capitolina, die [[auf]] dem Kapitol [[als]] Normalmaß aufgestellte geeichte Amphora, Capitol. Maximin. 4, 1. – 2) [[als]] [[Gewicht]], zur [[Bestimmung]] der [[Größe]] eines Schiffes, [[wie]] [[unser]] [[Tonne]], da die [[amphora]] im allg. 80 röm. [[Pfund]] [[wiegen]] sollte ([[hier]] [[meist]] Genet. Plur. [[amphorum]], s. [[Charis]]. 56, 4 sqq.; 100, 14 sqq. Diom. 304, 26; vgl. [[Neue]]-Wagener Formenl.<sup>3</sup> Bd. 1. S. 32 u. 33: naves onerariae, quarum [[minor]] nulla erat [[duum]] [[milium]] [[amphorum]], Lentul. in Cic. ep.: [[magnitudo]] ([[navium]]) ad terna [[milia]] [[amphorum]], Plin.: [[navis]] [[plus]] [[quam]] trecentarum amphorarum, Liv. – / Die [[Schreibung]] [[ampora]] [[verworfen]] [[von]] Prob. app. (IV) 199, 17.
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{{esel
|sltx=[[ἀμφορά]], [[ἀμφόρον]]
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{{LaEn
|lnetxt=amphora amphorae N F :: amphora, pitcher, two handled earthenware jar; a capacity of ~30 liters
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{{wkpen
|wketx=[[File:Terracotta Panathenaic prize amphora MET GR147.jpg|thumb|Panathenaic prize amphora for runners; circa 530 BC; terracotta; height: 62.2 cm (241⁄2 in.); Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)]]
An amphora (/ˈæmfərə/; Ancient Greek: ἀμφορεύς, amphoreús; English plural: amphorae or amphoras) is a type of container 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. The size and shape have been determined from at least 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. They are most often ceramic, but examples in metals and other materials have been found. Versions of the amphorae were one of many shapes used in Ancient Greek vase painting.

The amphora complements a vase, the pithos, which makes available capacities between one-half and two and one-half tons. In contrast, the amphora holds under a half-ton, typically less than 50 kilograms (110 lb). The bodies of the two types have similar shapes. Where the pithos may have multiple small loops or lugs for fastening a rope harness, the amphora has two expansive handles joining the shoulder of the body and a long neck. The necks of pithoi are wide for scooping or bucket access. The necks of amphorae are narrow for pouring by a person holding it by the bottom and a handle. Some variants exist. The handles might not be present. The size may require two or three handlers to lift. For the most part, however, an amphora was tableware, or sat close to the table, was intended to be seen, and was finely decorated as such by master painters.

Stoppers of perishable materials, which have rarely survived, were used to seal the contents. Two principal types of amphorae existed: the neck amphora, in which the neck and body meet at a sharp angle; and the one-piece amphora, in which the neck and body form a continuous curve upwards. Neck amphorae were commonly used in the early history of ancient Greece, but were gradually replaced by the one-piece type from around the 7th century BC onward.

Most were produced with a pointed base to allow upright storage by embedding in soft ground, such as sand. The base facilitated transport by ship, where the amphorae were packed upright or on their sides in as many as five staggered layers. If upright, the bases probably were held by some sort of rack, and ropes passed through their handles to prevent shifting or toppling during rough seas. Heather and reeds might be used as packing around the vases. Racks could be used in kitchens and shops. The base also concentrated deposits from liquids with suspended solid particles, such as olive oil and wines.

Amphorae are of great use to maritime archaeologists, as they often indicate the age of a shipwreck and the geographic origin of the cargo. They are occasionally so well preserved that the original content is still present, providing information on foodstuffs and mercantile systems. Amphorae were too cheap and plentiful to return to their origin-point and so, when empty, they were broken up at their destination. At a breakage site in Rome, Testaccio, close to the Tiber, the fragments, later wetted with calcium hydroxide (calce viva), remained to create a hill now named Monte Testaccio, 45 m (148 ft) high and more than 1 kilometre in circumference.
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{{trml
|trtx=af: amfoor; ar: أمفورة; ast: ánfora; az: amfora; be_x_old: амфара; be: амфара; bg: амфора; br: añforenn; ca: àmfora; cs: amfora; cv: амфора; da: amfora; de: Amphore; el: αμφορέας; en: amphora; eo: amforo; es: ánfora; et: amfora; eu: anfora; fa: آمفورا; fi: amfora; fr: amphore; he: אמפורה; hr: amfora; hu: amfóra; hy: ամֆորա; id: amphora; io: amforo; is: amfóra; it: anfora; ja: アンフォラ; kk: амфора; kn: ಆಂಫೋರ; ko: 암포라; la: amphora; lb: amphor; lt: amfora; lv: amfora; mk: амфора; nl: amfora; no: amfora; pl: amfora; pt: ânfora; ro: amforă; ru: амфора; scn: bùmmulu; sco: amphora; sh: amfora; simple: amphora; sk: amfora; sl: amfora; sq: amfora; sr: амфора; sv: amfora; ta: அம்ப்போரா மதுச்சாடி; tr: amfora; uk: амфора; uz: amfora; zh: 双耳瓶
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