A complete Roman amphora

This amphora from the museum collections is not from Exeter but was recovered from a shipwrecked boat off the Greek islands, dating to the 2nd century BC. It shows a typical form of such vessels: two-handled with a globular base. Amphorae were so shaped because they packed conveniently into ships’ holds and could be handled easily using one of the side handles and a projecting knob. If one were required to stand upright, a hole was excavated in the floor to accommodate it.

Acknowledgments: RAM Museum