A pithos is the ancient Greek vase type associated with Pandora’s container.
A pithos was a large storage jar, often used for bulk goods such as grain, wine, or olive oil. The plural form is pithoi. Its size and practical function make it very different from the small decorative box shown in many modern illustrations.
The connection comes from Hesiod’s use of the word pithos for the container in the Pandora story. Because later translation and artistic traditions changed the image into a box, many people no longer recognize the original vessel type.
A pithos could be made from terracotta and stored upright or partly buried. Other Greek ceramic forms had distinct purposes: an amphora commonly had two handles for storage or transport, a kylix was a drinking cup, and a krater was used for mixing wine and water. These differences make pithos the specific answer rather than a generic pottery term.