Terracotta amphora (jar)
ca. 275–250 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H.: 16 1/8 in. (41 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Ptolemaic · Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, 1890
Accession Number
90.9.1
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta amphora, created around 275–250 BCE, reflects the artistic traditions of the Hellenistic period under Ptolemaic rule in Egypt. Produced by the Group with Horizontal Ivy Leaves—a workshop known for its distinctive decorative motifs—the vessel features the graceful proportions typical of Greek storage jars. Its terracotta medium, fired clay shaped on a wheel and often painted, made it both practical for holding wine, oil, or grains and beautiful enough for ceremonial or household display. In the Ptolemaic era, Greek settlers and artisans brought classical forms to Egypt,...