πίθος

A. large wine-jar, Il. 24.527, Od. 2.340, 23.305, Hes. Op. 98,368, IG 12.328.2, etc. : usu. of earthenware, π. κεράμινοι Hdt. 3.96, cf. Ar. Pax 703, Pl. La. 187b, Grg. 493a; π. ἀργύρεοι, sent by Croesus to Delphi, Hdt. 1.51; but π. ξύλινοι casks, Str. 5.1.12, cf. Hdn. 8.4.5.

2. prov., εἰς τὸν τετρημένον π. ἀντλεῖν, of the task of the Danaids, i.e. of labour in vain, X. Oec. 7.40, cf. Philetaer. 18.5, Luc. Herm. 61, DMort. 11.4; applied to insatiable appetites, Pl. Grg. 493b; to largesses made by demagogues, Arist. Pol. 1320a32, cf. Oec. 1344b25; ἐκ πίθω ἀντλεῖς you have wine by the caskful, i.e. your purse is deep, Theoc. 10.13; ἐν πίθῳ ἡ κεραμεία γιγνομένη 'trying to run before you can walk', Pl. La. 187b, cf. Grg. 514e, Ar. Fr. 469; ζωὴ πίθου a Cynic's life, like that of Diogenes, Zen. 4.14; π. φρενῶν a cask full of wit, Men. Mon. 240 ( = IG 14.699), expld. with ref. to Diogenes by Eust. 1363.40.

II. = πιθίας, Arist. Mu. 395b12, Ptol. Tetr. 90. (Cf. Lat. fidelia.)