In Greek mythology, the vessel usually called Pandora’s box is a pithos.
A pithos was a large storage jar used in ancient Greece for goods such as grain, oil, and wine. In Hesiod’s original account, Pandora receives a pithos rather than a small wooden box. The familiar expression arose later through translation and reinterpretation.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Pandora opening the container, releasing troubles into the world, while hope remains inside. The Greek word pithos identifies the vessel’s type, not a special magical object.
This detail is often confused because “Pandora’s box” became the standard phrase in English and many other languages. Ancient Greek storage jars could be very large, sometimes reaching human height, making a pithos a more plausible container than a modern jewelry box.