In Greek mythology, Pandora’s original vessel was usually called a pithos in ancient Greek. A pithos was a large storage jar used for commodities such as grain, wine, or oil, rather than a small hinged box.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Pandora opening a pithos and releasing the troubles kept inside. The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” became standard in later European languages through translation and artistic tradition, even though it does not precisely reflect the ancient object.
The difference is important because a pithos could be a substantial household or agricultural container. Its size also fits the story’s imagery better than the compact box shown in many modern illustrations. The myth’s central action is opening and closing a large vessel.
A krater was a vessel for mixing wine and water, a kylix was a drinking cup, and an amphora was a two-handled storage or transport jar. Those are genuine ancient Greek vessel types, but pithos is the term associated with Pandora’s container.