[buffaloguy]

“There obviously must be a reason that escapes me, but I’ve always been puzzled by the purpose in the design of a liquid storage container that cannot stand upright on it own.”

The bottom of the jars fit into racks which had holes in them. Much more secure than a flat bottomed jar on a pitching ship.

[The_Victor]

The bottom of the jars fit into racks which had holes in them. Much more secure than a flat bottomed jar on a pitching ship.

Makes sense. And I guess the wooden racks don't usually survive underwater, which is why I've not seen one when archaeologists are excavating a bronze age shipwreck?

[PapaBear3625]

The bottom of the jars fit into racks which had holes in them. Much more secure than a flat bottomed jar on a pitching ship.

And the two handles allowed a rope to be used to secure the jar to something that would keep it upright.

[PapaBear3625]

Wiki has a pic of how the amphoras were secured on a ship, which is too big for me to want to embed here:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Amphorae_stacking.jpg