Pithos is the Greek name of the large storage jar identified with Pandora’s container. The word refers to a substantial vessel used in the ancient Greek world for storing commodities such as grain, oil, or wine.
Hesiod’s account uses pithos rather than a word meaning a small box. The later English expression “Pandora’s box” arose through translation history and artistic convention. A pithos was generally much larger and more functional than the compact box shown in many modern illustrations.
An amphora is another ancient Greek vessel, usually characterized by two handles and commonly used for transport or storage, but it is not the term used for Pandora’s container. A krater was used for mixing wine and water, while a lekythos was a smaller vessel often associated with oil. These distinctions matter because ancient Greek pottery had many specialized forms.