Terracotta transport amphora
Unknown Artist
late 3rd–mid-2nd century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 31 15/16 in. (81.2 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Rhodian · Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.357
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta transport amphora hails from the Hellenistic period, crafted on the island of Rhodes between the late 3rd and mid-2nd century BCE Standing at an impressive 31 15/16 inches (81.2 cm) tall, it exemplifies the practical yet refined pottery of ancient Greek maritime culture. Rhodes, a thriving hub of trade and commerce in the Aegean, produced these vessels in vast quantities to facilitate the export of goods like wine, olive oil, and other commodities across the Mediterranean. Amphorae like this one were wheel-thrown from high-quality terracotta clay, fired to achieve dura...