Pithos

A pithos (several pithoi) is a large jar used for storage. It was common in the whole Mediterranean. It was used for storing things like wine, vegetable oil or grain. Pithoi were common in the Aegean and on Crete. These jars were very big, they could reach the height of a man. As a consequence, creating them required special skill. Pithoi were similar to amphoras, but they were usually bigger, and had a flat bottom. 

Pithoi were sometimes used for burials, examples of these are the Argaric culture, or the child-skeleton of Kritsa.

 Related pages 
Pandora's box

Category:Ancient Greek pottery