Amphora · Roman Empire
Dressel 20 amphora
30–270 CE, Roman
The Dressel 20 amphora is the globular olive-oil container of Baetica in southern Spain, made from about 30 to 270 CE and shipped in millions to Rome, where discarded examples form Monte Testaccio, and to the frontier provinces. Handles are stamped with producer names and painted with tituli picti. It is the most studied Roman amphora.
| Object | Amphora |
|---|---|
| Dates | 30–270 CE |
| Period | Roman Empire |
| Cultures | Roman |
| Regions | Europe — Mediterranean, Europe — Western & Central, Europe — Northern & British Isles |
Diagnostic traits
Globular Baetican olive-oil amphora with thick round handles, a short neck and a small basal knob; often stamped on the handle.
Identification
The globular body, thick round handles, short neck and small basal knob distinguish it from cylindrical wine amphorae such as Dressel 1 and from North African types; the fabric is pale with mica. Handle stamps identify estates. Later Dressel 23 is smaller.
Reproductions and fakes
Dressel 20 amphorae are not faked, but sherds and stamped handles are sold, and whole amphorae are often assembled from fragments of several vessels. Marine finds from wrecks may be illicit.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Dressel 20 amphora" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/dressel-20-amphora. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-dressel-20-amphora,
title = {Dressel 20 amphora},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/dressel-20-amphora}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.