Amphora: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 23, 2026

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Photos

Exekias: Greek amphora depicting Achilles slaying Penthesilea

Amphora, a storage jar used in ancient Greece.

“Dionysus and the Maenads,” amphora by the Amasis Painter, c. 530 bc; in the Cabinet des Médailles, Paris

black-figure pottery

Figure 4: Amphora with Ajax and Achilles playing a board game, painted by Exekias, c. 550-540 BC. In the Vatican Museum. Height 61 cm.

Exekias: amphora with Ajax and Achilles

Etruscan amphora of bucchero ware

perfume vase (amphoriskos)

Proto-Geometric amphora from Athens, early 10th century bc; in the Kerameikos Museum, Athens.

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Topics

loutrophoros Greek pottery Alabastron Krater Lekythos aryballos Kylix Hydria Psykter Kantharos Oinochoe Red-figure pottery

Key People

“Dionysus Crossing the Sea,” interior of a kylix (shallow drinking cup) by Exekias, c. 535 bc; in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, Munich

Exekias

Greek artist

Berlin amphora

Berlin Painter

Greek artist

Theseus killing the Minotaur

Kleophrades Painter

Greek artist

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Achilles Painter

Greek painter

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Euthymides

Athenian vase painter

“Dionysus and the Maenads,” amphora by the Amasis Painter, c. 530 bc; in the Cabinet des Médailles, Paris

Amasis Painter

Greek artist