Archaeologica.org

Yeah, I would think square-sided pottery would be a bitch and a half to make!

Amphorae discussion moved from Guestbook

Enjoy!

I knew you had the power!

So back on track....

http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/art/pottery.html

Shipping amphorae typically had no flat base but continued down to a point. These were stored in racks with specially designed holes aboard vessels or in Emporiae. They have been referred to as the 200 litre drum of Antiquity.The height of amphorae varies from large Geometric vases of 1.5 metres to examples of 30 cm or even smaller (the smallest are called amphoriskoi). The average normal height is about 45 centimetres. Amphorae, which survive in great numbers, were used as storage and transport vessels for olives, cereal, oil, and wine (the wine amphora was a standard Attic measure of about 39 litres and, in outsize form, for funerals and as grave markers. Wide-mouthed, painted amphorae were used as decanters and were given as prizes.

And, as a side note....some of the Etruscan pottery detailed on this site
is simply breathtaking.

Neat web site. I never thought the Estruscans got as much print in the history books as they deserved - but then again, they lost .

Beautiful stuff though.

but then again, they lost .

Yes but they were lucky enough to lose to the Romans at a time when the Romans were absorbing the peoples they conquered rather than enslaving or exterminating them.

I remember the story of "Horatio at the Bridge", so I don't guess they were easily conquered.

Talking of which case you might be interested in this?
http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/
I'm sure it will be absolutely historically accurate, right to the last detail!

Aw neat. I'm really gonna look forward to this movie. When I was a kid, I went to the theatre to see The 300 Spartans starring Richard Egan. I loved it. It's about time they remade it.

This new one can improve a lot on the story, if they try.

Thanks Mike.

The 1962 movie could not really show the amount of gore that took place at that battle. At the end of the movie, the viewer sees Leonidas lying peacefully amidst his Spartans. They did not show that the Kings head was immediately hoisted on a Persian pike.

They also did not demonstrate the use of the phalanx very well in the original.

You've got me looking forward to this one.

The Spartans are dressed like gladiators, not hoplites.

Beagle wrote: They did not show that the Kings head was immediately hoisted on a Persian pike.

I think this one might?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the comic book. For the 2007 film adaptation, see 300 (film).
300 was republished in a "widescreen" format.300 is a graphic novel, written and illustrated by Frank Miller with painted colors by Lynn Varley. It depicts the Battle of Thermopylae and the events leading up to it from the perspective of Leonidas I, king of Sparta. The comic, however, takes great liberties in its narrative, for example depicting Xerxes I of Persia as a bald black man with piercings and the traitor Ephialtes of Trachis as a hunchback. The comic was particularly inspired by the 1962 film, The 300 Spartans, a movie that Miller watched as a young boy.

THAT's a hoplite!

I hope they just do the history. There is no evidence that Ephialtes was a hunchback. (at least I don't think so).

Min - I don't know if you saw the original, but they depicted the Hoplites very accurately. Just like your pic.

Not a bad movie, except they did not do their research on the battlefield itself. The width of the pass was narrower during the actual battle.
Apparently, in a mere 290 years, either the land rose or the sea fell because when Antiochus III was defeated by M. Acilius Glabrio at the Second Battle of Thermopylae both were able to deploy their armies (about 20,000 per side, give or take).

The other thing about the movie was the continual harping on the size of the Spartan contingent. By Greek standards, 300 men was a considerable force. During the Peloponnesian War at the Battle of Sphacteria, a force of 440 Spartans was overwhelmed by the Atneians in 425. The outcome of the battle was shocking, as some 292 Spartans, including 120 nobles, surrendered. Sparta later agreed to the Peace of Nicias just to get their men back.


Lastly, the notion that the Persians had a million men is ludicrous. They would have died of starvation and thirst trying to operate in enemy territory.