Amphora

North African workshops made glossy red pottery that circulated across the Mediterranean basin. Successful workshops in Byzacena (modern Sousse, El Jem, and Sbeitla) and Proconsular Africa (Carthage and surrounding area) withstood the region’s unstable political upheavals during the late Roman, Vandal, and early Byzantine periods.


Notice the Latin text ex Officina Navigi (from the workshop of Navigius) on this amphora, a reference to one of Tunisia’s most well-known pottery production centers. Navigi vessels were stamped or incised with this phrase, just as luxury brands today include their logos to announce the authenticity of their products. This workshop was known for a complex vessel type called the head flagon (lagynos), which emerged from an ancient tradition of depicting youths, elders, or foreigners. The intricate scenes show the exploits of storied mythological characters, such as Dionysus and Victory. These wares were made by joining two or three elaborately molded pieces together before firing. Often, the fingerprints of the potters can be seen on the vessels’ sides.