Amphorae in ancient Egypt from the

Late period to the 4th century A.D

By
Sherif Mohamed AbdelMoniem

Under Supervision

Prof. Ola El-Aguizey Dr. Sylvie Marchand

Professor of Ancient Egyptian Languages Ceramologist at IFAO
Faculty of archaeology, Egyptology department

Dr. El-Shaymaa Abd Elrehim Abd Elrahman Hossen

Lecturer of ceramic conservation
Faculty of archaeology, Restoration Department
Cairo University

2015
Abstract
In 2012-2013, as part of an agreement between Cairo University and The
French Institute of Oriental Archaeology, under the scientific supervision
of Prof. Ola El-Aguizy and Dr. Sylvie Marchand, thesis preparation by
the author.
the thesis gives in Arabic, a chronological and typological study of
Egyptian amphora during the Ptolemaic and Roman period.

amphorae studies started as early as 19th century, one of the most

important studies is Dixneuf 2011, Amphores égyptiennes. Production,
typologie, contenu et diffusion (IIIe siècle avant J.-C. – IXe siècle après
J.-C.), The current study has expanded with new material findings since
2011. The study was able to innovate so few points for its classification,
chronological accuracy and the new places of production. The
classification of Egyptian amphorae made by the student clearly takes
into account the new regional data that are particularly important in
Roman times, when the amphorae produced in the Mareotis, in Middle
Egypt, Upper Egypt where still are strong in Aswan different from each
other by their shapes and their ceramic paste. This study allows to follow
the channels of commerce and trade in Egypt on the basis of amphora
material collected from archaeological sites throughout Egypt.
To place the amphora in a chronological framework the thesis has traced
the history of the imported Greek Amphora types which imitated in
Egypt with Egyptian fabric.
it was necessary to clearly present the economic and cultural background
of the Greco-Roan period.
One of the main points that the study concerned with, the relationship
between the Amphora and its workshop.
Finally, the thesis has the look into the channels of commerce in the
Mediterranean world. This thesis is enriched by many drawings, GIS
maps, and pictures from books and published professional articlesas well
as new discovered unpuplished materials.
 CONTENTS

Map of Egypt

Chronology

Abbreviations

Bibliography
Preface and Acknowledgments 1

Introduction 5

Part I : Introduction to Egyptian Amphora

CHAPTER 1 Amphora names

1.1Terminology 12
1.2 Amphora for ceramologists 13

CHAPTER 2 Amphora, history of a greek shape

2.1 Morphological characteristics of amphora 18

CHAPTER 3 Amphora production in Egypt

3. 1 Shaping process 31
3.2 Graeco-Roman texts related to Amphora 34

CHAPTER 4 Functionnal Interpretationof Amphora

4.1 Amphora Uses 42

4.2 Reused Amphora 44

4.3Reused Amphora sherds 46

Part II : Amphora Chronological development

CHAPTER 1 Containers from Syria-Palestine and Cyprus

 1.1 Levantine Canaanite jars in the Bronze Age 50
1.2 Levantine « Torpedo » jars in the first millenium 69
1.3 Cypriot « Basket handles »jars in the first millenium 85

CHAPTER 2 Egyptian Amphora from Late Period to Early Ptolemaic period ( 6th - 3rd
Century B.C.)

2.1 Egypt and the Greek World

99
2.2 Why did the Egyptian imitate the Greek Amphora ?
102
2.3 Imitating Greek Amphora in Egypt during the Late Period (6th- mid 4th century
B.C) 126
2.4 Imitating Greek Amphora in Egypt in Early Ptolemaic Period
(end 4th - 3rd century B.C)
129
2.5 Egyptian Amphora Typology (4th -3rd century B.C)
131
2.8 Table of Amphora typology 149

CHAPTER 3 Egyptian Ptolemaic Amphora (2nd -1st century B.C.)

3. 1 Egyptian Amphora Typology ( 2nd Century BC)

162
3. 2Egyptian Amphora Typology (1st Century BC)
170
3.3 Egyptian Egyptian Amphora and trade in the Ptolemaic Perio
172
3.4 Table of Amphora typology 174

CHAPTER 4 Egyptian Roman Amphoras (end 1st BC- 3 th century AD)

4. 2 Egyptian Amphora Typology (End 1st B.C.- 3 th Century AD) 187

4.3Egyptian Amphora and trade in the Roman Period 202
4.3.1 Mediterranean Sea trade 203
4.3.2 Red Sea trade 205
2.8 Table of Amphora typology 208

CHAPTER 5 Workshops of Ptolemaic and Roman Egyptian Amphora

5.1 Workshops of Ptolemaic Egyptian amphoras (end 4 -1st century B.C.) 241
5.1.1 Northern Coast and Delta workshops 241
  Marmarica 242

 Kôm Firin/Kom Dahab 243

 Tell Atrib 241

5.1.2 Upper Egypt workshops

 Coptos 245

5. 2 Workshops of Roman Egyptian Amphoras (End 1st BC- 3 th Century AD)

5.2.2 Northern Coast and Delta workshops
Marea Area 249
Akademia 251

5.2.4 Middle Egypt workshops

 Magdola 258
 Ashmounein 260

5.2.5 Upper Egypt workshops

 Coptos 261
 El-Kab 263
 Elephantine 264

5.2.6 Oasis workshops (Siwa, Bahariya, Dakhla and Kharga) 268

Appendix : Ptolemaic and Roman Amphora from TaposirisMagna 275

Conclusion 297
Table of the figures, plates and tables 299

Index of archaeological sites 301

 Referring words

1. Amphora

2. Pottery

3. Ceramic

4. Ptolemaic

5. Roman

6. Economy

7. Wine

8. Commerce

9. TaposirisMagna

10.Kilns