DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47495#0055
3.4 Epigraphy
31
(Vindobona) belong to both Fabric groups A and B.98. It seems likely that the buff coloured Kapitan 2 ampho-
rae unearthed in Egypt also belong to this series99. The other Kapitan 2 amphorae found in Ephesus were made
of a fabric that has not been found in the vicinity. Their production site is yet to be discovered. They are quite
frequent among the second and third century A.D. amphorae of the Terrace House 1 and Terrace House 2.
The amphorae and other ceramic material suggest large-scale production in the Ephesus region, even
though no kilns have been identified so far. The production seems to have been continuous from Hellenistic
times to the Byzantine period. Other regions also produced Agora F 65-66 and other one handled jars, Dressel
24-predecessor and Late Roman 3 amphorae. These other centres of production are thought to have been
situated along the western shores of Asia Minor100.
3.4 Epigraphy
Few producers of Ephesian amphorae are known by name. In addition to the Hellenistic NiKavSpoc;,
MT|v6(pavTog, MrjvotptXog, Apysripog stamps, there are monograms which are hard to define101. From the mid-
dle of the first century B.C. the Aegean Local 1 and the Aegean Local 2 amphorae are stamped with names
like Hayo (...) perhaps Havo (...), or Hpopr] (...). There are three stamped handle fragments which belong to
the Agora type F 65-66 amphora or to its later variant in the Basilica Stoa and at the Tetragonos Agora. One
of them has an imprint of a gem with the profile of a head, the other two have initials of names EX(...) and
Mao(...). Even though the names are known from inscriptions in Ephesus, these stamps do not contribute to
the identification of their production site. The Kapitan 2, the Late Roman 3, and the Ephesus type 56 amphorae
have no stamps at all. The Vedius Gymnasium has a Late Roman 3 amphora whose graffito refers to a spicy
wine kond(itum)102.There is a Late Roman 3 amphora in Ravenna which has an ‘Aphrodisios’ (dcpopSiotoq)
graffito103. It is presumed to be a name - perhaps that of the producer or the merchant.
Fig. 18 Amphora graffito from the Terrace House 2 (after Ladstatter 2008).
An ostracon recently discovered at Berenice (Egypt) and dated A.D. 30-70, refers to two Ephesian vessels.
At that time this can only be the Agora F 65-66 jar.
98 Bezeczky 2005a, 45; Sauer 2005, 117 f.
99 Majcherek 1993, 218, Type 14 fig. 1.
100 Hayes 1976, 117; Williams 1982, 104; Peacock 1984, 22; Panella 1993, 663; Villa 1994, 405; Rautman 1995, 81; Arthur 1998,
165.
101 Lawall 2004, 177-188; Lawall 2007, 52, AH 62.
102 Ladstatter 2008, 181, K 219; Apicius I, 1. has a recipe of conditum paradoxum (wine of spice and surprise); in Italy: Martin 1999,
358; Robinson 1959, 107 f. (M 241) has published inscriptions (dipinti) of the one-handled jars in Athens. They suggest sweet
Mytilenean wine. The M 307 amphora also has a graffito (ukivo) that refers to wine (“the jar might have held wine flavoured with
aiavog, wild basil”).
103 Aphrodosios is interpreted as a personal name in Fiaccadori 1983, 238 f., 23.1a-b., but paralleled to the City of Aphrodisias in Pieri
2005, 100.
31
(Vindobona) belong to both Fabric groups A and B.98. It seems likely that the buff coloured Kapitan 2 ampho-
rae unearthed in Egypt also belong to this series99. The other Kapitan 2 amphorae found in Ephesus were made
of a fabric that has not been found in the vicinity. Their production site is yet to be discovered. They are quite
frequent among the second and third century A.D. amphorae of the Terrace House 1 and Terrace House 2.
The amphorae and other ceramic material suggest large-scale production in the Ephesus region, even
though no kilns have been identified so far. The production seems to have been continuous from Hellenistic
times to the Byzantine period. Other regions also produced Agora F 65-66 and other one handled jars, Dressel
24-predecessor and Late Roman 3 amphorae. These other centres of production are thought to have been
situated along the western shores of Asia Minor100.
3.4 Epigraphy
Few producers of Ephesian amphorae are known by name. In addition to the Hellenistic NiKavSpoc;,
MT|v6(pavTog, MrjvotptXog, Apysripog stamps, there are monograms which are hard to define101. From the mid-
dle of the first century B.C. the Aegean Local 1 and the Aegean Local 2 amphorae are stamped with names
like Hayo (...) perhaps Havo (...), or Hpopr] (...). There are three stamped handle fragments which belong to
the Agora type F 65-66 amphora or to its later variant in the Basilica Stoa and at the Tetragonos Agora. One
of them has an imprint of a gem with the profile of a head, the other two have initials of names EX(...) and
Mao(...). Even though the names are known from inscriptions in Ephesus, these stamps do not contribute to
the identification of their production site. The Kapitan 2, the Late Roman 3, and the Ephesus type 56 amphorae
have no stamps at all. The Vedius Gymnasium has a Late Roman 3 amphora whose graffito refers to a spicy
wine kond(itum)102.There is a Late Roman 3 amphora in Ravenna which has an ‘Aphrodisios’ (dcpopSiotoq)
graffito103. It is presumed to be a name - perhaps that of the producer or the merchant.
Fig. 18 Amphora graffito from the Terrace House 2 (after Ladstatter 2008).
An ostracon recently discovered at Berenice (Egypt) and dated A.D. 30-70, refers to two Ephesian vessels.
At that time this can only be the Agora F 65-66 jar.
98 Bezeczky 2005a, 45; Sauer 2005, 117 f.
99 Majcherek 1993, 218, Type 14 fig. 1.
100 Hayes 1976, 117; Williams 1982, 104; Peacock 1984, 22; Panella 1993, 663; Villa 1994, 405; Rautman 1995, 81; Arthur 1998,
165.
101 Lawall 2004, 177-188; Lawall 2007, 52, AH 62.
102 Ladstatter 2008, 181, K 219; Apicius I, 1. has a recipe of conditum paradoxum (wine of spice and surprise); in Italy: Martin 1999,
358; Robinson 1959, 107 f. (M 241) has published inscriptions (dipinti) of the one-handled jars in Athens. They suggest sweet
Mytilenean wine. The M 307 amphora also has a graffito (ukivo) that refers to wine (“the jar might have held wine flavoured with
aiavog, wild basil”).
103 Aphrodosios is interpreted as a personal name in Fiaccadori 1983, 238 f., 23.1a-b., but paralleled to the City of Aphrodisias in Pieri
2005, 100.
