AMPHORA, in Antiquity, an earthen Vessel, which served as a kind of liquid Measure, among the Romans. See MEASURE.
The Amphora contained 48 Sextaries; amounting to about seven Gallons, English Wine Measure. Amphora is also a modern Measure used by the Venetians. See MEASURE.
Suetonius tells us of a Man who stood for the Quaestorship, and who drank an Amphora of Wine at one Meal, with the Emperor Tiberius. The Amphora was sometimes also used as a Dry Measure, containing three Bushels; the Standard whereof was kept at Rome in the Capitol, to prevent false Measures. See STANDARD.
