PRODUCTION, TRADE AND DISTRIBUTION OF AMPHORAS AND PITHOI IN SYRIA AND CILICIA IN LATE ANTIQUITY

• Authors: Kılınçoğlu Hikmet
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Since the Bronze Age, the provinces of Cilicia and Syria have exhibited dynamic commercial activity, particularly in ceramic production and exportation. This vitality continued into the Late Antique period. This study examines in detail the regional commerce, potential production centres, and distribution areas of ceramics – specifically amphorae and pithoi – produced in these regions during Late Antiquity. We evaluate amphorae type specific to Cilicia, including Agora M 239, Late Roman (LR) 1, Zemer 40, and Zemer 41 (Agora G 199). For Syria, we assess LR 4, LR 5/6, and Agora M 334 (LR 9/Beirut) amphorae. The discussed pithoi are vessel forms that have remained unchanged since early periods. Analogous evaluations were conducted with vessels from many settlements in Anatolia, as well as in Syria and Cilicia during the Late Antique period. These amphorae were predominantly used in maritime trade, exporting products like olive oil and wine to numerous settlements across the Mediterranean. While they were preferred for sea trade due to their ease of transport, pithoi were more commonly used in land trade. Amphorae were primarily produced in coastal production centres, whereas pithoi were produced in both coastal and inland settlements. Both containers were essential during the Late Antique period for storage, preservation, and commercial functions. Their widespread discovery throughout the Mediterranean region provides concrete evidence of active trade networks

Keywords

EN

SYRIA; CILICIA; LATE ANTIQUITY; AMPHORA; PITHOI; TRADE

• Publisher: Slovak Academy of Sciences, Archaeological Institute
• Journal: Študijné zvesti
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 72
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 195 – 220

Contributors

author

Kılınçoğlu Hikmet

• Trnavská univerzita v Trnave, Filozofická fakulta, Hornopotočná 23, 918 43 Trnava, Slovak Republic

• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9082-8044

Identifiers

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31577/szausav.2025.72.10