Older Children

An amphora is a type of clay vase with two handles that was used in ancient Greece. Thousands of years ago, these vessels served many purposes: They were used to store food, water, and wine. The vessels were often painted with figures that told stories about history and the gods. A person living in ancient Greece would sometimes have the same amphora throughout their lifetime. The Greeks did not have many other means for storing or transporting food and liquids, so amphorae were very important to them.

These vessels, which were once a part of everyday life for the Greeks, are now kept in museums, where we can see them and learn about the people who used them. We no longer use large clay vessels like amphorae for our everyday needs. We use other types of containers instead. In making this sculpture, the artist was interested in exploring how the amphora and our ideas about it have changed over time. Notice that Hunt’s amphora is made of metal instead of clay; in other words, it is nonfunctional, and very different from a traditional Greek amphora.