Back to section: Grapes and wine in Pompeii

Amphora

1st century A.D.
Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei
Inv. 25129

 

This is the most common shape among all of the vessels used for transporting wine in Roman times. The inscription painted on the collar, referring to the type of wine it contained, is interesting. The term communianum refers to the agricultural estate on which it was produced.

APPROFONDIMENTI

The amphorae of Pompeii

Amphorae for transporting wine were produced at various places in the Roman Empire. The various types had different characteristics, and were made of different kinds of clay, taken from the places where they were produced. Among these, the most important were located in the East, in Greece, Spain and Italy, as well as in Campania itself, as shown by the manufacturer's stamps. The inscriptions painted on the amphorae indicate not only the name of the wine and its place of production, but also the name of the person it was being sent to.