In Hesiod’s Pandora myth, Pandora opened a jar that released troubles into the world. The original Greek account uses the word pithos, a large earthenware storage vessel, rather than the word “box.”
The container held destructive forces or hardships that had previously been kept inside. When Pandora opened it, these afflictions escaped and spread among humanity. One beneficial thing remained inside, giving the myth its enduring association with hope.
The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” became popular because the Greek word pithos was translated as “box” in a later Latin-influenced tradition. Erasmus of Rotterdam helped establish the “box” wording in the sixteenth century. As a result, modern retellings usually show a small box, even though Hesiod’s vessel was more like a substantial storage jar.
A pithos could be used for storing commodities such as grain, oil, or wine. This detail makes the ancient version materially different from the compact decorative box common in paintings, books, and films. The story’s central action, however, remains the same: opening the container lets suffering escape.