Hellenistic and Roman Stamped Amphora Handles from Phaselis

Abstract

Phaselis is a harbour city located at the point where the Lykia, Pamphylia and Pisidia regions intersect. During the surveys and excavations carried out between 2019 and 2023, a total of 18 stamped amphora handles were found at different points of the city - the Hellenistic Temple, Main Street and Necropolis. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to classify the stamped amphora handles according to their production centres, date the stamped handles, determine whether the names on the stamps refer to eponyms or fabricants, and improve understanding Phaselis’ maritime trade relationships. As a result, in this study, the amphora stamps found in the city were classified according to their production centre: Rhodes (13), Rhodian Peraea (1), Knidos (1), Pamphylia (2), and Latin DR 2-4. While the earliest example of stamped handles can be dated back to the second quarter of the 3rd century BC, the latest example is dated to the end of the 1st century BC - 1st century AD.