The most famous barrel of antiquity was the dwelling of the Greek philosopher Diogenes. But was this container really a wooden barrel? The author engages deeply with the wooden barrel in Roman antiquity. Through wood finds and visual representations, she provides a comprehensive understanding of barrel usage in Roman daily life. Using original finds, ancient imagery, and literary texts, the significance of the wooden barrel in Roman everyday life, including in the provinces of Noricum and Raetia, is established. She covers the craft, usage, and visual representation of barrels. The author offers updated overviews of barrel finds and representations. It is also the first summarizing presentation of the topic in the German language.