A Roman Type IIB amphora from Beltrán, of Phoenician origin, dating from the High Empire, 1st–2nd centuries AD.

Roman Type IIB amphora from Beltrán, of Phoenician origin, dating from the High Empire, 1st–2nd centuries AD.
Terracotta.
In good condition.
Provenance: Hamada Collection, 1960–1970 / Galería Española 2014 / This piece is accompanied by an export certificate from the Spanish Ministry of Culture, No. 2020/00703, dated July 14, 2020, and a certificate of authenticity.
Bibliography: GARCÍA VARGAS, Enrique; BERNAL CASASOLA, Darío; DÍAZ RODRÍGUEZ, José Juan. “Beltrán IIB (Costa Bética).” Amphorae ex Hispania. Landscapes of Production and Consumption. July 8, 2016.
Measurements: 140.0 cm.

Amphorae are spindle-shaped ceramic vessels with two handles and a narrow neck, although in some cultures they were also made of metal or other materials. They usually have a pointed base or even a long protruding tip that was used to stake them into the ground and keep them stable. The Greeks were the first to use them, though they soon spread throughout the Phoenician and Roman worlds, where they were used to transport liquids and food, as well as for storage.They usually had a capacity of at least 25 to 30 liters, and their shape varied depending on whether they carried wine, oil, salted products, grains, or other foods.

The morphology of the Beltrán IIB amphorae is characterized by a highly flared rim with a rounded cross-section that rests on the upper part of the handles; a cylindrical neck with a hyperbolic cross-section; and a pear-shaped body resting on a button-like protrusion. The handles run in a straight line with a pronounced curvature at the top and rest on the shoulders, which form a natural continuation of the neck.