Amphora (unit)

An amphora (/ˈæmfərə/; Ancient Greek: ἀμφορεύς) was the unit of measurement of volume in the Greco-Roman era. The term amphora comes from ancient Greece where people used a tall jar looking container with two opposed handles near the top mostly made of ceramic. Amphora literally means "two handled".^[1]

An amphora is equal to 48

imperial system of units

.

The Roman

libra of wine, and was used to measure liquids, bulk goods, the cargo capacity of ships, and the production of vineyards.^[2] Along with other standardized Roman measures and currency, this gave an added advantage to Roman commerce. The related amphora capitolina standard, was kept in the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill

in Rome.

A typical Greek amphora, based on a cubic-

talent, an ancient unit of weight was roughly the mass of the amount of water

that would fill an amphora.
The
muid
or one cubic pied du roi and therefore ~34 litres.

References

^ Rowlett, Russ. "amphora". A Dictionary of Units of Measurement. University of North Carolina.

^ Smith, Philip; Smith, William (1875). "Quadrantal". A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. London: John Murray.

External links

Systems of Measurement

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amphora_(unit)&oldid=1194595094"

[Rowlett-1] Rowlett, Russ. "amphora". A Dictionary of Units of Measurement. University of North Carolina.

[2] Smith, Philip; Smith, William (1875). "Quadrantal". A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. London: John Murray.

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