Pithi, or more correctly written according to the Greek spelling rules: singular Pithos, plural Pithoi, is the ancient Greek word for the large clay vases that were already used in the various Minoan periods and in some traditional village are still used today. The word pithos can even still be easily recognized in the modern Greek word pithari.

These enormous vessels could be man high or sometimes even larger than that. Others were a bit smaller and easier to transport. They have a solid, flat base and are rather pear shaped with a wide opening at the top. They often feature decorative lines and curves, either engraved or added as a relief. They have 3 or 4 handles through which a rope was passed. The rope was used not so much for transport as they were really large and, when filled, extremely heavy. The rope and handles were more used to tilt or manage the vase if the people needed to get the contents out. Fine examples can be seen in the Palace of Knossos and various archaeological museums on Crete.

They were used for the storage of not only liquids like olive oil and wine but for solid foods as well. For example, the pithoi contained dried fruits, grains, herbs, whole olives and pulses. Even foods that were more sensitive to decay like dried or roasted meat could be stored for a while when they were covered in salt and olive oil. This method of preserving is still used for some special meat dishes, the secret is that the total covering by olive oil blocks out all the air.

The way the pithoi  were made and fired is really surprising. The Minoans had permanent kilns for the smaller artefacts, but these kilns were not large enough to hold the huge clay vessels. So the solution was to construct, layer by layer, the pithos first. Then they built a temporary kiln from stone slabs around it. After the pithos was fired and cooled down they deconstructed the kiln and gained access to their new pithos. As you can imagine, life wasn’t always easy for Minoan potters!

In our times pitharia are made in faster and easier ways. They are often seen in village gardens and courtyards, hosting flowers and small plants. They exist in all sizes, even really small but complete with the curved, decorative lines and tiny handles. They make a very nice souvenir!