πίθος

English (LSJ)

[ῐ], ὁ,

   A large wine-jar, Il.24.527, Od.2.340, 23.305, Hes.Op. 98,368, IG12.328.2, etc. : usu. of earthenware, π. κεράμινοι Hdt.3.96, cf. Ar.Pax703, 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 ( = IG14.699), expld. with ref. to Diogenes by Eust. 1363.40.    II = πιθίας, Arist.Mu.395b12, Ptol.Tetr.90. (Cf. Lat. fidelia.)