Amphora
Unknown Artist
4th–7th century
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
Overall: 8 5/8 x 8 7/16 in. (21.9 x 21.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
Coptic
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1925
Accession Number
25.10.20.117
Art Historical Context
This modest yet evocative amphora, crafted by an unknown Coptic artisan between the 4th and 7th centuries, offers a window into everyday life in early Christian Egypt Standing just over 8 inches tall, this earthenware vessel exemplifies the practical ceramics produced in the Nile Valley during Late Antiquity, a time when Coptic culture blended ancient Egyptian traditions with emerging Christian influences. Amphorae like this were essential for storing and transporting goods such as olive oil, wine, or, reflecting the region's vibrant trade networks and agricultural economy. Made from earthenw...