Museum Notebook: Vases of the Ancient World 18 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM 3 minutes to read Cypriot Amphora. Whanganui Regional Museum Collection ref: 1961.9.31 Whanganui Chronicle Throughout the ancient world, vases were used in everyday life. Used for storing oils and perfumes, wine and water, and for ritual purposes, the variety of surviving vases offers glimpses not only into their use in the home and in temples but also their role in trade and the economy. Vases could be plain or decorated in both the classical and Roman eras but also in the earlier Minoan and Mycenaean periods. And with so many archaeological sites, various regional differences in clay are visible as well.