amphor- +

(Greek (amphoreus > Latin (amphora): bottle, jar; a vessel with two handles or ears, a pitcher)


amphora, amphorous
1. A large two-handled storage jar.
2. A narrow-necked jar used in ancient Greece and Rome, usually made of clay, with a narrow neck and two handles, used for holding oil or wine
3. Contraction of amphiphoreus, from amphi-, "on both sides" plus phoreus "bearer, carrier" and pherein, "to bear, to carry"; from its two handles.

Its shape made it easy to handle and ideal for tying onto a mule's or donkey's back. They were often placed side-by-side in upright positions in a sand-floored cellar. Sinking it into the sand or ground kept the contents cool.

Amphorae were also made of glass, onyx, gold, stone, and brass and some had conventional jar bottoms with a flat surface. The container would be sealed when full, and the handle usually carried an amphora stamp, impressed before firing, giving details such as the source, the potter's name, the date and the capacity. It is unlikely that amphorae were normally re-used.

amphorae
The plural form of amphora.
amphoral
Referring to, or resembling, an amphora.
amphore
A French version of the English amphora.
amphoric
1. The sound heard in auscultation resembling the hollow sound made by blowing across the mouth of a large, narrow-necked, empty bottle; for example: "Amphoric breathing indicates a cavity in the lung."
2. Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty bottle; as, "amphoric respiration or resonance.
3. In design engineering, having the shape of an amphora, or a similar tapering, narrow-necked shape.
amphoricity
The quality or condition of being amphoric or productive of amphoric sounds.
amphoriloquy
Similar to the sound produced by blowing or speaking into an amphora (two-handled vase), or other large vessel with a small mouth, as in “amphoric resonance”; a cough, an echo, a voice, etc.
amphorophony
A cavernous voice; a reference to low-pitched auscultatory sounds (sounds within the body).

Pointing to a page about a amphora Historical background about amphora.


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