Weights and Measures
Amphorae varied greatly in height. The largest stands as tall as 1.5 metres (5ft) high, while some were under 30 centimetres (12in) high - the smallest were called amphoriskoi (literally "little amphorae"). Most were around 45 centimetres (18in) high.
There was a significant degree of standardisation in some variants; the wine amphora held a standard measure of about 39 litres (41 US qt), giving rise to the amphora quadrantal as a unit of measure in the Roman Empire. In all, around 66 distinct types of amphora have been identified.
Further, the term also stands for an ancient Roman unit of measurement for liquids. The volume of a Roman amphora was one cubic foot, ca. 26,026 L.
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