Amphora

am'fo-ra, a large, twohandled jug-like vessel of hard-baked, unglazed clay, much used by the ancients. The name is Greek, meaning to carry with both, referring to the use of two hands, one on each handle. The amphora was a slender affair half as tall as a person. It had a narrow neck and ended in a sharp point below, that might be placed in a hole in a table or thrust into the ground to hold the jug upright. It was used to store grain, pulse, wine, honey, and olive oil, and often as an urn in which to keep the ashes of cremated relatives. As a measure of capacity, the Greek amphora contained about nine English gallons; the Roman, six. Ornamental amphorae provided with bases were made of precious metals, bronze, alabaster, and marble. Such vases were highly decorated and were given often as prizes in athletic games. See Pottery