List Headline Image
Updated by Museater Labs on Sep 22, 2014
 REPORT
5 items   1 followers   1 votes   67 views

Greek Amphoras 101

Resources to learn the basics about Greek amphoras

Amphorae - The Classical Art Research Centre and The Beazley Archive

The amphora (pl. amphorae; from Greek amphi - on both sides, phero - carry) is a two-handled pot with a neck that is considerably narrower than the body. It was used for the storage of liquids and solids such as grain.

Belly amphora - The Classical Art Research Centre and The Beazley Archive

The belly-amphora has a continuous profile from lip to foot. It is usually lidded.

Panathenaic prize amphora - The Classical Art Research Centre and The Beazley Archive

Panathenaic amphorae are only decorated in the black-figure technique. Athena always appears on one side, with the inscription "ton Athenethen athlon" - a prize from Athens. The event for which the vase was a prize is depicted on the other side

Neck-amphora - The Classical Art Research Centre and The Beazley Archive

The neck-amphora is identifiable by its clearly defined neck. The shape is old, recognisable among Geometric and Protoattic vases. In Athenian black-figure, examples can be ovoid (notably the so-called Tyrrhenian amphorae, which seem to have been made for an Etruscan market), but the standard type has a more obvious 'shoulder', perhaps inspired at some stage by East Greek shapes.

Pelike - The Classical Art Research Centre and The Beazley Archive

From Wikipedia: "A pelike (Ancient Greek: πελίκη) is a one-piece ceramic container similar to an amphora.
It has two open handles that are vertical on their lateral aspects and even at the side with the edge of the belly, a narrow neck, a flanged mouth, and a sagging, almost spherical belly.
Unlike the often-pointed bottom of many amphorae, the pelike's bottom is always flanged so it will stand on its own.
Pelikes are often intricately painted, usually depicting a scene involving people. The shape first appeared at the end of the 6th century BCE and continued to the 4th century BCE."