Amphorae from contexts of middle Imperial date found during the excavations of the so-called ‘Terme di Elagabalo’ in Rome. The implications of their study for our understanding of the economy of the City and of related imported products.

Abstract

The recent excavations (2007–2013) in the building commonly known as ‘Terme di Elagabalo’ in Rome have revealed large amounts of totally unpublished pottery that are providing with key, and hitherto unknown, significant information about the Mid-Imperial economy of the City, with particular reference to the commercial activity.

In this research, all fragments of amphorae from that site will be included in a deep analysis of a collection of all sherds of these trade-containers offered in published reports of excavations held elsewhere in the Capital, providing an understanding of imported products (mainly wine, olive oil and fish sauces, but also alum, defrutum and dates) that arrived in the Urbs. At the same time, data from Ostia will be compared, determining similarities or differences in consuming patterns across these two cities.

The importance of ceramics to comprehend Roman commerce and consumption of products will be also re-emphasized, comparing these data with the current scholarship about trade patterns in the Capital and with also attempts in updating it. Suggestions about how to increase publications about Roman ceramics in Rome will be also offered.

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