In the Pandora myth, the earliest Greek version describes a jar rather than a box. Hesiod uses the Greek word pithos, which generally refers to a large storage jar used for commodities such as grain, wine, or oil.
The phrase “Pandora’s box” became standard much later through a translation history. In the 16th century, the humanist Erasmus translated pithos into Latin as pyxis, a word that can mean a small box or container. English and other European traditions then popularized the box image.
This is one of the best-known details people get wrong about the story. The original myth does not necessarily depict a small hinged box that Pandora opens. A pithos could be a substantial earthenware vessel, making the scene very different from many modern illustrations.
The myth says that releasing the contents brings troubles into the world, while Hope remains inside. Modern usage keeps the “Pandora’s box” wording and applies it to an action that causes many unexpected problems. Archaeological pithoi were often large enough to store substantial household supplies.