Pithos is the ancient Greek word commonly used for Pandora’s large storage jar in Hesiod’s story.
In Works and Days, Hesiod does not describe a small hinged box like the one shown in many modern illustrations. The vessel is generally understood as a pithos, a large earthenware container used in the ancient Greek world for storing goods such as grain, oil, or wine. Its size and practical purpose make the later image of a compact box a significant adaptation.
The familiar expression “Pandora’s box” became established through later transmission and translation. Erasmus is often credited with helping popularize the Latin phrase pyxis Pandorae, or “Pandora’s box,” in the Renaissance. That wording influenced the modern form of the myth.
A pithos is different from an amphora, which typically has two handles and a narrower body. The distinction matters because the container’s original cultural context is part of what Hesiod’s story actually says.