In the ancient Greek myth, Pandora’s container was called a pithos in Hesiod’s original wording.
A pithos was a large Greek storage jar, commonly used for products such as grain, oil, or wine. Hesiod’s Works and Days uses this word rather than describing a small hinged box. The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” developed through later translation and interpretation, then became standard in European languages.
The distinction matters because the vessel’s size and function affect how the scene is imagined. A pithos could be a substantial household container, not a decorative jewelry box. Ancient vase painters and later artists nevertheless represented the object in several different forms.
Amphora, krater, and lekythos are also genuine ancient Greek vessel terms, but they identify different shapes and uses. They are not the specific word used for Pandora’s container in Hesiod’s account.