Amphora

[gfish]

I've been on a Time Team watching kick recently. And it has left me wondering... why were amphora shaped that way?



It seems like a really stupid shape, particularly given their bulk carrier status.

Comments

[beaq.livejournal.com]

The article at the URL below seems to confirm my first thought, that they are stacked on their sides in interlocking rows, each layer with necks pointing outward on both sides. Also, easy to carry.

http://www.davidgibbins.com/Museums.htm

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Especially useful if the bottom of the ship is rounded, but I don't know that to be the case.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I think the bottom of most trade ships back then was filled with rock ballast, and the bilge deck over that was flat, but I'm no expert.