unguentarium
- Museum number
- 1856,1226.337
- Description
-
Pottery: coarse ware bottle for 'garum' (fish sauce); brick-red clay with superabundant black particles, iron and black mica; overall off-white slip; cupped bevelled rim, very tall cylindrical neck and elongated ovoid body with bevelled ring foot; handle with sub-oval section, two ribs; graffito in black ink on neck: 'ALCAST'(?); one half of rim missing; vertical striations in slip towards base.
- Production date
- 1stC-2ndC
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 7.70 centimetres (base)
-
Diameter: 6.20 centimetres (rim)
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Height: 45.70 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Many similar bottles are found in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. They were made specifically for the transport and storage of garum - a condiment made from fermented fish - especially mackerel. Garum and its derivatives alec and liquamen, were essential elements in Roman cuisine, and were used in everything, from starters to desserts. Many garum bottles carry painted inscriptions with the maker's name. One of the most popular brands was the garum made by a Pompeian called Scaurus.
- Location
- On display (G70/dc10)
- Acquisition date
- 1856
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1856,1226.337
