Harvard Art Museums > 1977.216.154: Stamped Amphora Handle Vessels Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Stamped Amphora Handle , 1977.216.154,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Nov 14, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/287834. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1977.216.154 Title Stamped Amphora Handle Classification Vessels Work Type handle Date 160-220 CE Places Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Hispania Period Roman Imperial period, Middle Culture Roman Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/287834 Physical Descriptions Medium Terracotta Technique Stamped Dimensions 12.7 cm (5 in.) Inscriptions and Marks collector's mark: TA ligature (A with top stroke of T above) in ink = Thomas Ashby stamp and inscription: LIVNIM / ELISSI Provenance Recorded Ownership History From Monte Testaccio, acquired; by George J. Pfeiffer and Rachel Hartwell Pfeiffer, Cambridge, MA (by 1905), gift; to the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1905-1977), transfer; to the Fogg Museum, 1977. Transfer from Department of the Classics, 1977. Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Transfer from the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, Gift of Pfeiffer-Hartwell Collection Accession Year 1977 Object Number 1977.216.154 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description The amphora stamps of the Melissi family are found all over the western Mediterranean, in such frequency and extent as to suggest that they must have been one of the wealthiest and most productive families in Spain. The distribution of stamps of L. Iunius Melissus range from the 160s through the early part of the 3rd century CE, to judge from the find-spots of stamps in Monte Testaccio. He seems to have inherited the business from the two Melissi (husband and wife, or brother and sister) who stamped their handles as II IVN. MELISSI ET MELISS(a)E, and was probably the son of both or one of them; the museum has a copy of that stamp (1977.216.3037). Related Works 1977.216.3037 Stamped Amphora Handle Vessels Verification Level This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu