Amphora, pe. cor. Genus vasis vinarij. A measure (after Bude) a foote square euery way, conteining three Modios, two Vrnas, 48. Sextarios: snery Sextarius a wine pint and a halfe: that is 24. ountes, in weight two pound Romane, or a pound and a halfe of haberdepoyse weight. So that Amphora conteineth of wine 72 pintes, that is 9. galions: In weight 96. pounde Romane. 72. poundes after 16. ounces to the pounde. By this accompt Amphora is more than out bushell 16. poundes: for our bushell is but 56. pounde. If Sextarius be but 18. ounces, or as Georg. Agric. sayth, 20. ounces, then is Amphora lesse according to the rate.In aridis amphora.Amphora mellis.Cic.Pretiosa amphora. Martial. Amphora pura. Horat.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
amphŏra,, ae (gen. plur. as a measure, usually amphorūm, v infra, II.; cf. Charis. p. 41 P.), f., = a)mforeu/s, a vessel, usually made of clay, with two handles or ears; for liquids, esp. wine, a flagon, pitcher. flask, bottle, jar, etc.; cf. Smith, Dict. Antiq. I.Lit.: amphoras implere, Cato, R. R. 113, 2: amphora coepit Institui, Hor. A. P. 22; so id. C. 3, 8, 11; 3, 16, 34; Petr. 34 al.— Also for holding wine: amphora vini, Vulg. 1 Reg. 1, 24; ib. Dan. 14, 2; oil: amphorae oleariae, Cato, R. R. 10, 2; honey: aut pressa puris mella condit amphoris, Hor. Epod. 2, 15; water: amphoram aquae portans, Vulg. Luc. 22, 10.—Poet. for the wine contained therein, Hor. C. 3, 28, 8.—II.Transf.A.A measure for liquids (also called quadrantal; cf. Fest. p. 258 Müll.), = 2 urnae, or 8 congii, etc. = 6 gals. 7 pts.: in singulas vini amphoras, Cic. Font. 5, 9; Plin. 9, 30, 48, 93. Since such a measure was kept as a standard at the Capitolium, amphora Capitolina signifies an amphora of the full measure, Capitol. Max. 4.—B.The measure of a ship (as the ton with us): naves, quarum minor nulla erat duūm milium amphorūm, Lentul. ap. Cic. Fam. 12, 15, 2; Plin. 6, 22, 24, 82: navem, quae plus quam CCC. amphorarum esset, Liv. 21, 63.